🎙️ Hosts: Mike Ouren, Sura Hadi
🎧 Episode Title: The 2025 Hiring Curve: Biotech, Automation & What’s Next (Part 1)
What’s changed in biotech hiring since January? What hasn’t? And what’s next for lab automation jobs in 2025?
In this exclusive two-part episode of Science Means Business, Sura and Mike sit down with Ian Cooper & Chris Gaetani of BioMed Recruitment for a mid-year hiring check-in that every candidate and hiring manager should hear.
This week in Part 1, we cover:
💻 Why resumes are fading and video intros are winning candidates jobs
💸 The “compensation hangover” from post-COVID salary spikes
📊 Which biotech and automation roles are hardest (and easiest) to fill
🏢 The surprising stat: 37% of SLAS companies are still hiring in the U.S.
👉 And we leave you on a cliffhanger: Chris’s Hot or Not trend picks, coming in Part 2.
If you’re navigating the biotech job market, hiring for automation talent, or just curious how careers are shifting in 2025 — this episode is for you.
🎧 Subscribe for new episodes weekly → / @helicalbrew
📩 Want to be promoted or be a guest? Email us: helicalbrew@gmail.com
📍 TikTok, Shorts & more: @helicalbrew
⏱️ EPISODE CHAPTERS – NAVIGATE THE CONVERSATION
00:00 Cold Open (Rotary Phone Bit)
00:32 Host Intro: Welcome to Science Means Business
01:00 Guest Intros: Ian & Chris from BioMed Recruiting
02:00 Icebreaker: Resume & Job Trends That Made Us Shake Our Heads
05:30 Video Intros vs Resumes: Why Candidates Stand Out on Camera
08:00 The Compensation Hangover: Resetting Expectations in 2025
13:00 Harder vs Easier Roles to Fill in Lab Automation
17:00 SLAS Stat: 37% of Companies Still Hiring
20:00 Setting the Stage: Chris’s Hot or Not (to be continued in Part 2)
🔗 Guest & Company Links:
🌐 BioMed Recruitment: https://www.biomedrecruitment.com/
👤 Ian Cooper on LinkedIn: / ian-cooper17
👤 Chris Gaetani on LinkedIn: / chris-gaetani-586a3a129 📌 SHORTS (Grab Quick Highlights)
▶️ Video Intros vs Resumes: • 📹 Why video intros beat resumes in biotech...
▶️ Compensation Hangover: • 💸 The Post-COVID Compensation Hangover in ...
#HelicalBrew #ScienceMeansBusiness #BiotechJobs #HiringTrends #Compensation #Recruiting #BioMedRecruiting #LabAutomation #BiotechCareers #Hiring2025 #CareerPivot #FutureOfWork #SciencePodcast #AutomationInBiotech #BiotechInnovation #ScienceAndTech #viralshortsvideo #viralreels #viralvideos #labautomation #biotech
🎙️ Hosts: Mike Ouren, Sura Hadi, Elizabeth Rodziewicz
🎧 Episode Title: Red Chair, Closet Beer, Peloton Fame & Frenchie Drama
Red chair returns. Closet beer gets cancelled. Peloton price therapy, Frenchie recovery, and a lab-events blitz.
This week on Helical Brew: Unfiltered Brew (Ep. 46), Sura, Mike, and Elizabeth go full cozy chaos:
🔴 Red-on-red & the chair that wants a mic
🍺 Closet beer confessions (and why IPAs have a clock)
🚴 Cody Rigsby shout-outs, OG vs. new Peloton, and price reality
🐶 Hyper-Frenchie surgery recovery + crate-scream saga
🎛 Stream decks, soundboards, and the “we need an intern” moment
🧭 LRIG / SLAS / Oxford Global / Biocom event rundown
🥾 Rucking, TRX, & parenting-by-embarrassment
🎁 Picks of the Week: bamboo stand, GORUCK patches, “presence”
If you’re into biotech banter, Peloton chaos, closet beer debates, or just need a laugh after a long week - you’re in the right place.
🎧 Subscribe for new episodes weekly → / @helicalbrew
📩 Want to be promote or be a guest? Email us: helicalbrew@gmail.com
📍 TikTok, Shorts & more: @helicalbrew
⏱️ EPISODE CHAPTERS – NAVIGATE THE CHAOS
00:00 The red chair takes the spotlight
01:15 Summer vanishes + e-bike mania (and mishaps)
02:49 Peloton speed runs & Cody Rigsby hype
03:40 Quarantine Peloton: regrets, price drops & OG bike woes
05:30 “At that price, the coach better be included”
06:27 Producer shout-outs & shorts grind
07:43 ISPE San Diego recap + live-show banter
08:32 Mira Mesa eats & Somi Somi dessert detour
09:29 Parenting by embarrassment (feat. Nutella vs custard)
10:22 Frenchie surgery, sedation, & crate-scream saga
12:39 Townhouse perks: unexpected quiet
14:29 Stream decks, gamer rigs & overkill setups
17:13 Streaming dreams & “we need an intern” callout
18:05 Upcoming events: LRIG, Niklas Forum, MSACL, ILMAC, SLAS
21:14 NYC LRIG crossover & Canada socials brewing
23:35 Oxford Global + Biocom previews
24:35 SLAS lead-up teasers & guest hints
25:59 Happy hours & meetups (Reno → London → Munich)
27:31 Picks of the Week: bamboo stand, GORUCK challenge, digital presence
29:11 TRX workouts, rucking & the hashtag challenge
32:12 Parenting vs. rucking (a heavy load)
33:30 “Did you miss us?” banter returns
35:08 Wrap-up + subscribe call
📌 SHORTS (Quick Clips from the Episode)
▶️ • 🍺 Stop Hoarding Old Beer | #helicalbrew E...
▶️ • Peloton Fame = Cody Rigsby Shout-Out #heli...
#HelicalBrew #UnfilteredBrew #Podcast #Peloton #ClosetBeer #FrenchieDrama #BiotechLife #LabAutomation #SLAS #LRIG #BeerTalk #Parenting #Rucking #TRX #SciencePodcast #ComedyPodcast #BiotechEvents #viralshortsvideo #viralreels #viralvideos #viral_video #labautomation #biotech #biotechstartups #biotechinnovation #biotechnology #science #sciencepodcast #scienceandtech #podcastclips #podcastshorts
🎙 Episode 45 – Cristian Ponce | CEO & Co-Founder – Tetsuwan Scientific
"Interfacing with the Future: Why Lab Robots Still Don’t Understand Scientists
"What’s really broken in lab automation? According to Cristian Ponce, it’s not the hardware—it’s the human interface.In this episode of our AI Thought Leaders series, we sit down with Cristian, a Caltech-trained bioengineer and co-founder of Tetsuwan Scientific, to dive into the real reason most lab robots fail to deliver—and what it will take to build a fully autonomous, cloud-based laboratory future.
🔍 We cover:• Why lab automation still feels clunky (hint: it's not the pipettes)
• How AI can act as a translator between scientists and machines
• Dead volume wars, snap cap disasters, and the cost of bad UX
• What “automated automation engineering” really means
• The bold idea of a robot-powered lab that lives in the cloud
• Why storytelling and systems-thinking matter in biotech entrepreneurship
• How Tetsuwan is stewarding a new, forest-minded future for lab automation
☁️ From Eroom’s Law to Astro Boy, from dead volume to dead dreams of automation—this one goes deep.
📌 Subscribe for more bold ideas in AI, lab automation, and biotech: / @helicalbrew
📩 Want to be promote or be a guest? Email us: helicalbrew@gmail.com
📍 TikTok, Shorts & more: @helicalbrew
⏱️ EPISODE CHAPTERS – NAVIGATE THE EPISODE
00:00 – Intro
01:06 – Magic Wand Question: No More Labs?
02:04 – Cristian’s Origin Story: From Sorghum to Caltech
04:16 – Falling Out of Love with the Wet Lab
06:15 – Fixing the Interface Layer in Lab Automation
10:00 – Why Scientists & Robots Speak Different Languages
13:13 – Hidden Costs: Time, Talent & Trust
17:55 – Old Solutions vs New Ideas (Why Parameterization Fails)
21:00 – Can LLMs Help? Why They Fall Short Alone
23:15 – The Hybrid AI Approach to Translating Science
25:00 – Tetsuwan’s Unique UX & Design Philosophy
30:07 – The Cloud Lab is Coming… But Are We Ready?
35:20 – Why the Last Cloud Labs Didn’t Work (Yet)
43:10 – From Algae to Automation: The Founder Mindset
49:06 – Teen Court, NASA, and the Systems Lens
54:44 – Advice for Young Scientists & Founders
57:55 – Why Tetsuwan Supports LabAutomation.io & Lab Auto Wiki
1:02:19 – Forest-Minded Thinking: Swag, Collaboration & the Future
1:05:26 – Picks of the Week
1:09:23 – Wrap Up
🔗 Guest & Company Links:
🌐 Tetsuwan Scientific: https://www.tetsuwan.com
👤 Cristian Ponce on LinkedIn: / cristianponce1
📌 SHORTS (Quick Clips from the Episode)
▶️ • "Magic Wand? No More Labs.” — Cristian Pon...
▶️ • Scientists vs Dead Volume ⚔️ (it’s a fist ...
#helicalbrew #aithoughtleaders #HelicalBrew #TetsuwanScientific #LabAutomation #CloudLab #ScientificInnovation #AutomationEngineering #LifeScienceTech #BiotechInnovation #DeadVolume #LLM #SyntheticBiology #BiotechStartups #MolecularAutomation #NextGenLab #BenchToBot #FutureOfScience #TechEntrepreneurs #ScienceMeansBusiness #VeritasiumVibes #LifeScienceInnovation #DrugDiscovery #BiotechAI #MachineLearning #SciencePodcast #AutomationInBiotech #AIInHealthcare #FutureOfScience #HelicalBrew #viralshortsvideo #viralreels #viralvideos #viral_video #labautomation #biotech #biotechstartups #biotechinnovation #biotechnology #science #sciencepodcast #scienceandtech #podcastclips #podcastshorts #ai #aiinscience #aiinbiotech
🎙️ Hosts: Mike Ouren, Sura Hadi
🎧 Episode Title: Flying Tylenol, Gamer Rage & BBQ Sauce: Unfiltered Travel & Tech Talk
Cloud storage meltdowns. Overnight flight delays. Double Wild Turkey.
In this episode of Unfiltered Brew, Mike and Sura unpack the real reason people drink on airplanes, private equity destroying good airlines, and the chaos of modern travel — before spiraling into gaming updates, dog DNA tests, Trader Joe’s vs Costco, and the glorious nostalgia of Chili’s baby back ribs.
☕ What we cover in this episode:
If you’re into automation, tech, gaming, or just need a laugh after a long travel day — you’re in the right place.
🎧 Subscribe for new episodes weekly → / @helicalbrew
📩 Want to be promote or be a guest? Email us: helicalbrew@gmail.com
📍 TikTok, Shorts & more: @helicalbrew
⏱️ EPISODE CHAPTERS – NAVIGATE THE EPISODE
00:00 Intro & Channel Reminder
01:30 Airline Chaos & Cloud Storage Rant
05:30 Why Everyone Drinks on Planes (Southwest Stories)
09:00 Travel Horror Stories – Denver Delay
14:30 Neighborhood Drama & Tall vs Short Household Problems
20:00 Call of Duty Season 5 Update & Gamer Rage Quits
27:30 AI Companies Everywhere – Industry Trends
33:25 Language, Culture & Reading Body Language
39:20 Raw Chicken Regrets & Food Safety Trauma
46:50 Trader Joe’s vs Traditional Groceries
51:10 Rocky & Bullwinkle Nostalgia / Taco Bell Memories
57:00 SAT / TASP Chat & Pop-Culture Food Trends (Shawarma)
1:03:40 Invitation to Join / Closing Remarks/ Behind the scenes outtake
📌 SHORTS (Quick Clips from the Episode)
▶️ • The Chili’s Baby Back Ribs Jingle… Unfilte...
▶️ • Why Do We Drink More on Planes? #HelicalBr...
▶️ • What Should We Talk About Next? #HelicalBr...
#UnfilteredBrew #HelicalBrew #TravelHumor #LabAutomation #SciencePodcast #TechCulture #Warzone #SouthwestAirlines #BiotechTalk #PodcastShorts #ViralPodcast #LabAutomation #SciencePodcast #BiotechTalk #viralshortsvideo #viralreels #viralvideos #viral_video #biotech #biotechstartups #biotechinnovation #biotechnology #science #sciencepodcast #scienceandtech #podcastclips #podcastshorts
🎙️ Hosts: Mike Ouren, Sura Hadi
🎧 Episode Title: From Lanyards to Lollapalooza: Unfiltered Trade Show Tales
Lanyards, swag regrets, boutique hotels, and a diagnostics mega-show colliding with Lollapalooza.
Your favorite lab automation crew gets real about ADLM 2025, diagnostics business models, and the quirks of conference life—plus some unexpected gaming and tech tangents.
This episode dives into the intersection of science and chaos—from the expo floor to the EDM bassline drifting in from across the park.
☕ What we cover in this episode:
If you work in diagnostics, automation, biotech, or just love trade show stories—you’ll feel right at home.
🎧 Subscribe for new episodes weekly → / @helicalbrew
📩 Want to be a guest? Email us: helicalbrew@gmail.com
📍 TikTok, Shorts & more: @helicalbrew
⏱️ EPISODE CHAPTERS – NAVIGATE THE EPISODE
0:00 Intro & welcome
1:37 Lollapalooza & ADLM collide
3:00 Deep dish pizza & hotel chaos
5:00 Boutique hotel finds & Nespresso loyalty
7:35 ADLM recap: what stood out
10:00 Booths, diagnostics giants & B2B scale
14:00 Contract design & startup strategy
17:17 Business models: diagnostics vs. R&D
18:00 Swag regrets & lanyard purging
24:00 Neck pillows & travel talk
26:30 Upcoming shows: ILMAC, NICLAS Forum, ISPE
30:00 Gaming overlays & Twitch thoughts
34:00 Warzone spin-offs & Call of Duty chaos
38:28 Meta fatigue & Apple Vision Pro
41:00 Google Plus flashbacks & quitting social
43:00 Is LinkedIn still worth it?
44:30 Wrapping up: Lollapalooza crash or Comic-Con cosplay?
📌 SHORTS (Quick Clips from the Episode)
▶️ • Lollapalooza vs ADLM: When Lab Geeks and E...
▶️ • Warzone Spin-Off Rumors? Mike Reacts to th...
▶️ • The Big Expo: Our Take on ADLM’s Size, Ene...
#UnfilteredBrew #HelicalBrew #ADLM2025 #DiagnosticsLife #TradeShowHumor #Lollapalooza #LabAutomation #SciencePodcast #BiotechTalk #SwagRegrets #viralshortsvideo #viralreels #viralvideos #viral_video #biotech #biotechstartups #biotechinnovation #biotechnology #science #sciencepodcast #scienceandtech #podcastclips #podcastshorts
🎙️ Hosts: Mike Ouren, Sura Hadi, Elizabeth Rodziewicz
🎧 Episode Title: Unfiltered Brew: Summer Trade Shows, Surf Racks & ShrinkageBold opinions.
Bigger laughs. No guests, just guts.
Your favorite lab automation crew gets real about diagnostics, biotech trends, and a little turbulence—literally.
This episode dives into ADLM, biotech meetups, automation trends, and the evolving diagnostics industry landscape.
☕ What we cover in this episode:
Real talk on event overload, planning fatigue, and Day of the Dead tequila cheers
If you work in diagnostics, automation, biotech, or just love trade show stories—you’ll feel right at home.
🎧 Subscribe for new episodes weekly → / @helicalbrew
📩 Want to be a guest? Email us: helicalbrew@gmail.com
📍 TikTok, Shorts & more: @helicalbrew
⏱️ EPISODE CHAPTERS – NAVIGATE THE EPISODE
0:00 Intro & South Park banter
2:20 What the heck is ADLM?
6:10 Upcoming shows: Boston, Toronto, RTP
10:05 Central CA biotech dreams
15:00 Surfboards, burritos & San Diego biotech
18:50 Trade show strategy (and shrinkage)
23:15 Analytika North America & European events
29:40 Acquisitions: BD, Waters, Hamilton, Thermo
33:30 Travel stories, turbulence & Thunder suits
40:10 Planning fatigue & Day of the Dead
45:50 Salmon fishing fails & Canadian fashion
51:20 Wrap-up & Hawaiian shirt challenge
📌 SHORTS (Quick Clips from the Episode)
▶️ • ADLM 2025 Preview + Unfiltered Helical Bre...
#UnfilteredBrew #HelicalBrew #LabAutomation #Diagnostics #BiotechHumor #TradeShowTales #HelicalBrew #viralshortsvideo #viralreels #viralvideos #viral_video #labautomation #biotech #biotechstartups #biotechinnovation #biotechnology #science #sciencepodcast #scienceandtech #podcastclips #podcastshorts
🎙️ Guest: Madeline Wolf | Founder, The Automated Lab
🎧 Hosts: Mike Ouren, Sura Hadi, and Elizabeth Rodziewicz
📺 Series: Automation in the Wild
Title: Blueprints, Bots & Breaking In: Building The Automated Lab from the Ground Up
"You can’t automate what you don’t understand." – Madeline Wolf
In this episode, we sit down with Madeline Wolf, a seasoned automation engineer, product manager, and founder of The Automated Lab. From developing modular RAC systems at Ginkgo to building a community-first education hub for automation engineers, Madeline shares real-world lessons on scaling platforms, managing human factors, and breaking the mold in biotech.
🧠 What You’ll Learn:
☕ Whether you're building robots, mentoring teams, or exploring your next big automation challenge—this episode will shift how you think.
🎧 Subscribe for new episodes weekly → / @helicalbrew
📩 Want to be a guest? Email us: helicalbrew@gmail.com
📍 TikTok, Shorts & more: @helicalbrew
⏱️ EPISODE CHAPTERS – NAVIGATE THE EPISODE
00:00 – Intro & Icebreaker
02:10 – DNA, Bugs & First Automation Aha!
05:00 – Early Career & Systems That Should’ve Exploded
07:15 – Zymergen, Ginkgo & Factory-Scale Automation
13:30 – What Modular Really Means (and Doesn’t)
20:00 – Human Factors in Automated Workflows
26:15 – Going Meta: From Engineer to Product Manager
31:00 – User Error or Engineering Failure?
37:00 – Why Stickers Save Robots
42:15 – Building The Automated Lab
47:15 – Education as the Trojan Horse for Change
54:00 – The Future of Modular Hardware & Open Source
1:03:15 – Dream Challenges & Industry Shifts
1:14:00 – Picks of the Week: Scary Squids & Switch Games
1:20:00 – Wrap-Up & Where to Find Madeline
🔗 Connect with Madeline Wolf
Website: https://theautomatedlab.com
LinkedIn: / madelinewolf
📌 SHORTS (Quick Clips from the Episode)
▶️ • Balancing Engineering & Human Needs #helic...
▶️ • Lab Automation Basics—What They Don’t Tell...
💬 “Stickers go farther than you'd think in automation.”
#HelicalBrew #AutomationInTheWild #LabAutomation #WomenInSTEM #BiotechInnovation #ScientificStorytelling #FoundersInTech #RoboticsEngineering #BiotechOps #PodcastClip #OpenSourceScience #HumanCenteredDesign #scientificliteracy #engineeringeducation #biotechstartup #techpodcast #modularautomation #sciencepodcast #viralshorts #podcastshorts
🎙️ Guest: Ali Glaser | Antibody Discovery & Cell Therapy Automation Strategist
🎧 Hosts: Mike Ouren & Sura Hadi
📺 Series: Science Means Business
"You can’t innovate in a vacuum." - Ali Glaser
In this episode, Ali Glaser shares field-tested lessons from the frontlines of lab automation, platform adoption, and scientific product strategy. From custom ClonePix setups to dead-cell disasters, we unpack why tools get abandoned, how to prevent it, and what makes a product truly usable in real labs.
🧠 What You’ll Learn:
☕ Whether you’re building, buying, or pitching automation—this episode is a reality check.
🎧 Subscribe for new episodes weekly → / @helicalbrew
📩 Want to be a guest? Email us: helicalbrew@gmail.com
📍 TikTok, Shorts & more: @helicalbrew
⏱️ EPISODE CHAPTERS - NAVIGATE THE EPISODE
00:00 – Intro & Cold Open
00:28 – Meet Ali Glaser
03:35 – Science vs. Business Thinking
04:48 – “You Can’t Innovate in a Vacuum”
07:48 – One-Offs, ROI & Internal Buy-In
10:38 – Career Journey: DIY Lab to Field Scientist
14:48 – Vendor Advocacy & Black Box Systems
16:32 – Tech Rollout: MVPs & Early Users
20:27 – Platform Adoption: What Really Matters
24:49 – Ecosystem Fit: Bandwidth, Labware & More
27:44 – Future-Proofing Scientific Tools
30:37 – When Automation Goes Sideways
33:21 – Empathy, Buy-In & Customer Trust
35:15 – MacGyver Moments in the Field
40:46 – Design-Build-Test with Customers
42:30 – Listening for Real Pain Points
43:45 – Upstream/Downstream Sales Fluency
45:18 – Python in the Modern Lab Stack
46:41 – Biology + Engineering Collaboration
48:32 – Picks of the Week
52:46 – In-N-Out vs. Shake Shack
54:05 – Wrap-Up & Where to Find Ali
🔗 Connect with Ali Glaser
LinkedIn: / alison-ali-glaser-025a477
📌 SHORTS (Grab Quick Highlights)
▶️ • Don’t Skip These Questions Before Buying L...
▶️ • When Robots Crash and Grippers Snap: Why P...
💬 "Ask better questions. Build better adoption. Don’t let your robot crash at 6 PM."
#HelicalBrew #ScienceMeansBusiness #LabAutomation #BiotechOps #ScientificLeadership #FacilityDesign #CapitalStrategy #AutomationRecovery #BuiltToFail #PodcastClip #LabCulture #viralshorts #viralreels #biotechstartups #biotechinnovation #sciencepodcast #scienceandtech #podcastclips #podcastshorts #viralvideos
🎙️ Guest: Steven Laflin, Former Principal SHE Program Manager, Genentech🎧 Hosts: Mike Ouren, Sura Hadi & Elizabeth Rodziewicz📺 Series: Science Means BusinessLabs aren’t failing because the science is wrong—they’re failing because the systems were built to break.Steven Laflin has managed over $325M in capital investments across life sciences. From Eli Lilly to Genentech, he’s the guy who gets called after the multimillion-dollar mistakes. In this episode, Steve shares what really goes wrong in automation, capital strategy, and scientific operations—and how to fix it before the budget (or culture) collapses.🧠 What You’ll Learn:
☕ This one’s for anyone who’s inherited a lab they didn’t build—and had to make it work anyway.🎧 Subscribe for new episodes weekly → / @helicalbrew 📩 Want to be a guest? Email us: helicalbrew@gmail.com📍 TikTok, Shorts & more: @helicalbrew⏱️ EPISODE CHAPTERS - NAVIGATE THE EPISODE00:00 – Labs fail from poor planning00:28 – Meet Steve Laflin01:46 – $325M in automation lessons03:10 – Siloed teams vs. integration04:58 – Vendor overload problems06:39 – Bad automation examples08:01 – Open access labs09:21 – Proving automation works11:01 – Standardizing platforms12:41 – The emotional shift15:44 – Fear of the word “robot”18:29 – Compliance + safety20:08 – Shared systems across teams23:21 – Award-winning automation26:36 – Scaling across facilities29:19 – Automation in manufacturing32:38 – Biosero + Potato AI potential34:10 – Training the next generation38:50 – Hidden downtime and risk43:13 – Vendor support matters46:32 – Lab myths vs. data reality49:38 – Why rockstar teams fail51:13 – Team roles that execute54:21 – Robots from bench to surgery57:15 – Outro + connect with us🔗 Connect with Steven LaflinLinkedIn: / steven-laflin-c-b7458a24 📌 SHORTS (Grab Quick Highlights)▶️ • Why Lab Ops Fail (Even with Great Ideas) |... ▶️ • $100K Lab Gear... Used as a Chess Table?! ... “Automation without adoption? That’s just expensive furniture.”“They called me when the budget was blown. That’s when the real work started.”#HelicalBrew #ScienceMeansBusiness #LabAutomation #BiotechOps #ScientificLeadership #EHS #FacilityDesign #CapitalStrategy #Genentech #PharmaFailFixes #AutomationRecovery #BuiltToFail #PodcastClip #LabCulture #HelicalBrew #viralshortsvideo #viralreels #viralvideos #viral_video #labautomation #biotech #biotechstartups #biotechinnovation #biotechnology #science #sciencepodcast #scienceandtech #podcastclips #podcastshorts #viralshorts #viralshort
🎙️ Guest: Kate Halter, PhD – Field Sales Engineer at Tecan
🎧 Hosts: Mike Ouren, Sura Hadi & Elizabeth Rodziewicz
📺 Series: Automation in the Wild – Helical Brew
Lab automation doesn’t sell itself.
In this episode of Automation in the Wild, Kate Halter, PhD, joins us to talk about what really happens after the install. From neuroscience labs to field sales, Kate shares what it takes to build trust, train teams, and make robots actually stick.
You’ll hear about flooded benches, protocol packet struggles, and why listening - not pitching- is the real superpower in automation.
🧠 What You’ll Learn:
🎧 Subscribe for new episodes weekly → / @helicalbrew
📩 Want to be a guest? Email us: helicalbrew@gmail.com
📍 TikTok, Shorts & more: @helicalbrew
⏱️ Chapters
00:00 – Cold Open: Jobsian Vibes & Coffee Talk
01:36 – Meet Kate: From Neuroscience to Lab Automation
03:52 – Brain Slices at Dawn: Life Before Robots
07:04 – The San Diego Shift: Career Pivot to Sales
10:03 – Why Automation Success Feels So Good
13:07 – Common Lab Mistakes (Like Power Outlets!)
17:51 – Trust, Empathy & Winning Over Scientists
21:11 – Field Fixes & MacGyver Moments
24:17 – Staying Ahead: Weekly Trainings & Tech Updates
26:04 – Guiding Clients from Small Wins to Big Solutions
29:04 – The Power of Relationships (and Baked Goods)
32:28 – Creating Superuser Labs That Thrive
34:13 – Flexible Software & Python in the Lab
43:02 – Owning the Sales Role & Letting Go of Imposter Syndrome
🎯 Picks of the Week
🎧 Kate’s PickShokz Bone-Conduction Headphones
“My go-to for field installs, running between client sites, or hopping on Zooms. Super light, stays off the ears, and lets me stay alert on the road.”
🎤 Mike’s Pick
T-shirts for the crew from Helix Brewing in San Diego, CA
"Puff, Puff, Pale" from the brewery that comes up often on Helical Brew
🔗 Guest Links
🧪 Tecan Fluent Platform → https://www.tecan.com/fluent
💼 Kate Halter on LinkedIn → / katehalter
📌 SHORTS (Catch up on viral clips from this episode!)
▶️ • Mind-Meld with Machines? 🧠🤖 Automation Con...
#HelicalBrew #AutomationInTheWild #Tecan #FluentPlatform #LabAutomation #ScientificSales #WomenInSTEM #BiotechCareers #LiquidHandling #FieldEngineer #LifeInTheField #EmpathyInTech #SciencePodcast #AutomationThatWorks #SoftSkillsInSTEM #LeadershipInScience #BiotechInnovation #PodcastShorts #PodcastClips #ScienceAndTech #STEMculture #viralshorts #automationpodcast #biotechpodcast #lablife #HelicalBrew #viralshortsvideo #viralreels #viralvideos #viral_video #labautomation #biotech #biotechstartups #biotechinnovation #biotechnology #science #sciencepodcast #scienceandtech #podcastclips #podcastshorts
🎙 Hosts: Sura Hadi | Mike Ouren | Elizabeth Rodziewicz
🎧 Series: Unfiltered Brew – Helical Brew Intermission
☕️ Lab chaos, cool cars, and even cooler stories.
This unscripted intermission episode gives the Helical Brew crew a chance to go off-the-rails (and off-the-record) about robot mishaps, automation bloopers, and the biotech grind. From coolant caps that won’t budge to janitors shadowboxing $250K robots - this is one for the automation folklore books.
💥 What you'll hear:
🎁 Bonus: An ode to International Lab Automation Day - and some serious nostalgia.
👇 Hit play, share a laugh, and remember: every day is Lab Automation Day.
🔔 Subscribe for more automation tales → / @helicalbrew
📌 CHAPTERS
00:00 – Car trouble & tiny tea cups
01:50 – Coolant cap vs. acrylic nails
02:41 – Dishwasher destroys favorite mug
03:53 – Memories & automation throwbacks
06:22 – Open APIs, Dynamic Devices, XML wins
08:13 – Lab Automation Day = every day
10:02 – TikTok spam & merch requests
10:32 – Velocity11 nostalgia & Flipper comeback
12:37 – Robot mishaps & lab disasters
15:32 – AC off = ruined experiments
18:30 – SLAS/LRIG recap & regional shifts
23:50 – Future segments & wrap-up
#HelicalBrew #UnfilteredBrew #LabAutomation #BiotechHumor #CoolantCapChronicles #Velocity11 #RobotFails #AutomationDay #STEMStories #SciComm #SciencePodcast #TechThrowback #PodcastComedy #podcast #HelicalBrew #viralshortsvideo #viralreels #viralvideos #viral_video #labautomation #biotech #biotechstartups #biotechinnovation #biotechnology #science #sciencepodcast #scienceandtech #podcastclips #podcastshorts
🎙️ Guest: Constantin Radu, Commercial Leader at Molecular Devices (Danaher)
🎧 Hosts: Mike Ouren, Sura Hadi & Elizabeth Rodziewicz
📺 Series: Science Means Business
Automation is only as successful as the problems it solves.
In this episode of Helical Brew, Constantine Radu joins us to explore how true lab innovation scales - across markets, cultures, and customer needs. From a five-meter robot track at Sloan-Kettering to AI-driven decision platforms at Molecular Devices, this one covers the journey from the bench to the boardroom.
You’ll hear about midnight lab saves, rooftop LRIG parties, and the untold risks of overbuilding “cool” tech that nobody can use.
🧠 What You’ll Learn:
🎧 Subscribe for new episodes weekly → / @helicalbrew
📩 Want to be a guest?
Email us: helicalbrew@gmail.com
📍 TikTok, Shorts & more: [@helicalbrew]
⏱️ Chapters
00:00 – Cold Open
06:36 – Meet Constantin Radu (Molecular Devices)
10:21 – Lab Automation: Real-World Gaps
14:18 – Turning Ideas Into Products
21:31 – Science vs Business: Finding Balance
25:16 – Training the Non-Automation Scientist
31:02 – Tech That Sounds Great… Until Reality
36:09 – Global Support & Regional Challenges
43:29 – Collaboration Across Danaher
47:24 – AI’s Role in Lab Automation
53:16 – Leadership Lessons & Soft Skills
1:00:05 – Picks of the Week & Lab Stories
🎯 Picks of the Week:
🔬 Constantin’s Pick
SLAS Discovery & Technology Journals
“I stay sharp by reading the latest screening and lab automation research—just scanning abstracts gives me a sense of where the industry is heading.”
☕ Mike’s Pick
Hario Japanese Pour-Over Set
“Elegant glass, zero plastic, easy to clean. A minimalist’s dream for the perfect brew.
”Voice of SLAS Badge – Hamburg 2025
“Proof that podcasting and automation go hand-in-hand. A shoutout to everyone who showed love in Germany!”
🔗 Guest Links
🔬 Molecular Devices → https://www.moleculardevices.com/
💼 Constantin Radu on LinkedIn → / consradu
📌 SHORTS (Catch up on viral clips from this episode!)
▶️ • My Aha Moment - Customer Service Done Righ...
▶️ • How AI is Actually Used in Lab Automation ...
#HelicalBrew #ScienceMeansBusiness #AIinAutomation #AIinBiotech #ai #Danaher #MolecularDevices #LabAutomation #BiotechInnovation #AutomationThatWorks #SoftSkillsInSTEM #LeadershipInScience #ScientificStorytelling #biotechpodcast #automationpodcast #aithoughtleaders #scienceandtech #podcastshorts #viralvideos #biotechstartups #labtech #drugdiscovery #modularautomation #HelicalBrew #viralshortsvideo #viralreels #viralvideos #viral_video #labautomation #biotech #biotechstartups #biotechinnovation #biotechnology #science #sciencepodcast #scienceandtech #podcastclips #podcastshorts
🎙️ Guest: Charbel Eid, VP of Platform at BigHat Biosciences
🎧 Hosts: Sura Hadi & Mike Ouren
Antibody discovery meets AI copilots.
In this episode of Helical Brew, Charbel Eid walks us through how BigHat Biosciences is blending synthetic biology, machine learning, and real-world biotech to accelerate drug design - without replacing the scientists behind it.
We talk toddler metaphors, Clippy moments, PS5 parenting hacks, and how to balance speed, safety, and scale in AI-driven drug discovery.
🧠 What You’ll Learn:
🎧 Subscribe for new episodes weekly → / @helicalbrew
📩 Want to be a guest? Email us: helicalbrew@gmail.com
📍 TikTok, Shorts & more: [@helicalbrew]
⏱️ Chapters
00:00 – Cold open: Gaming, parenting, and PS5 wars
01:02 – Meet Charbel Eid & BigHat’s vision
04:35 – What “AI copilots” actually look like in biotech
06:50 – Antibodies, bottlenecks, and platform design
11:30 – How machine learning and automation loop together
17:45 – The importance of quality control (and 5-second curves)
21:00 – Balancing AI speed with clinical safety
29:30 – FDA readiness & regulatory mindset
34:00 – Why partnerships like Eli Lilly matter
39:45 – Charbel’s bold prediction: the AI biotech bubble?
47:00 – Pick of the Week: FDA’s ELSA + Future House AI
🔗 Guest Links
🔬 BigHat Biosciences → https://www.bighatbio.com/💼 Charbel Eid on LinkedIn → / charbel-eid
📌 SHORTS (Catch up on viral clips from this episode!)
▶️ • AI as Your Lab Co-Pilot #helicalbrew #podc...
▶️ Hosts: Mike Ouren & Elizabeth Rodziewicz
🎙️ Recorded live from the show floor at SLAS Europe 2025 in Hamburg
📻 In this wrap-up edition of Helical Brew, Mike and Elizabeth unpack two packed days in Hamburg - from record-setting product launches to UI upgrades we didn’t see coming. If you like benchtop deployables, centrifuges that finally make sense, or just nerding out over perfect API reuse, this one’s for you.
🔹 The rise of deployable benchtop automation at SLAS Europe
🔹 Liquametrics’ Lumina makes its home-country debut
🔹 Closed-loop volume verification via Lab Services’ Heron
🔹 The Veya device - massive touchscreen, real-time data
🔹 Readers, centrifuges, and robots finally getting along
🔹 Yokogawa’s CQ3000 and the biggest booth in Hamburg
🔹 Smart layouts, perfect logistics, and a convention center next to a train station
🔹 “Don’t hate, automate” - the best button in biotech
🔹 Passport-to-Prizes, harbor cruises, and the wildest luggage line we’ve seen
🍻 Whether you missed the show or just want the inside scoop on what actually matters in automation, this episode captures the real energy of SLAS 2025 Europe.
🎧 Subscribe for more episodes, insights, and automation chaos from the front lines of lab innovation: https://linktr.ee/helicalbrew
🔔 Subscribe & Like if your favorite pipette is now a touchscreen.
🎁 PICKS OF THE WEEK
🎫 New SLAS Europe 2025 Badge - shoutout to Amy & team📎 “Don’t Hate, Automate” Button - by Beyond (Spain), subtle and clever
⚙️ Liquametrics Lumina - now officially on its home turf
🧪 Lab Services Heron - closed-loop verification on display
📺 CQ3000 by Yokogawa - big booth, even bigger upgrade
🚄 Hamburg Train Station Proximity - best logistics we’ve had
🧳 Largest luggage check in SLAS history?
⏱️ EPISODE CHAPTERS – NAVIGATE THE EPISODE
00:00 - Cold Open: Live from SLAS Europe 2025
00:32 - First impressions of Hamburg & event logistics
02:00 - Best-attended SLAS Europe yet?
03:05 - Favorite product launches: Lumina, “CutePicks”, and more
04:45 - Closed-loop verification via Lab Services Heron
06:10 - chickenVIA’s massive screen + data-rich UI
07:35 - Robot-friendly instruments: past vs present
08:50 - Molecular Devices & the reader-hotel integration
10:10 - Centrifuge upgrades: flat fingers, temperature control, and shared API
12:05 - Yokogawa CQ3000 & the most sophisticated booth
13:10 - “Don’t Hate, Automate” button + badge shoutout
14:25 - SLAS extras: luggage check, harbor cruise, and local vendors
15:20 - What’s next: Helical Brew heads to Vancouver
15:55 - Wrap-up & where to watch
🌐 Learn more about SLAS: https://slas.org
🔗 Follow Helical Brew on LinkedIn: / helicalbrew
🤖 Helical Brew is where lab automation meets the wild frontier of innovation. Subscribe for stories from the builders, breakers, and believers in the next wave of biotech, automation, and scientific discovery.
▶️ Guests: Tim Verweij (Lab Services) & Martin Pinzer (Lab Automation Network)
🎙 Host: Mike Ouren
📻 Live from SLAS 2025 in Hamburg, this special episode of Helical Brew captures the energy, innovation, and late-night gossip of Europe's premier lab automation conference. From modular robotics to organoid centers, Tim and Martin share what caught their attention on the expo floor and what’s really changing in the world of automation.
💥 In this European automation special, we dive into:
🔹The hottest booths and bleeding-edge tech from SLAS 2025
🔹Liquid handling, organoid automation, mobile cobots & more
🔹Vendor-agnostic integration: Is true interoperability finally here?
🔹Why standardization and AI-ready data are more urgent than ever
🔹Stories from rooftop parties, cell culture gaps, and robotic "walrus teeth"
🔹What’s coming next in Boston and beyond
🍺 We recorded this episode live in Hamburg, and you can practically hear the beer (but really its the show floor so it's robots) steins clinking in the background. Prost!
👇 Subscribe and stay tuned for Part 2 next Sunday:
https://www.youtube.com/@HelicalBrew
🧪 Picks of the Week
- Blue Cap Bio centrifuge/robotic arm integration
- Lumina by LiquidMetrix- Organized by Fraunhofer spinout- Digit Robot (bipedal humanoid)
- Lab Automation Network
⏱️ EPISODE CHAPTERS - NAVIGATE THE EPISODE
00:00 – Welcome from Hamburg & SLAS Europe kickoff
01:25 – Rooftop parties and late-night networking
03:10 – Reflections on SLAS Brussels, Barcelona, and Hamburg
04:25 – First impressions from the show floor
05:40 – Blue Cap Bio: Centrifuge + small robotic arm
06:50 – Lumina from LiquidMetrix: Booth demo & integration
08:25 – Front-hopper spinout innovations
09:30 – Demoing Heron, Sirdus Flex, and Lumina closed loop
10:45 – Martin on new compact device for steroid isolation
11:50 – Organoid automation & miniaturized platforms
13:20 – The nuance of cell culture & biologics automation
15:00 – CuPiX innovations: SBS format & built-in pipetting
16:25 – The challenge with off-the-shelf solutions
17:45 – Customizable systems & vendor-agnostic platforms
19:10 – Standardization, AI-readiness & integration trends
20:45 – Mobile cobots, 6-axis robots & future modular labs
22:05 – Closing thoughts: Boston next, AI, and data reuse
🎧Full episodes drops every Sunday 7am PST on youtube: www.youtube.com/@HelicalBrew
#HelicalBrew #LabAutomation #SLAS2025 #AutomationInTheWild #Robotics #SciComm #Biotech #MobileRobots #LiquidHandling #Organoids #Podcast #Hamburg #LabTech #AIinScience #SLASHamburg #viralshortsvideo #viralreels #viralvideos #viral_video #labautomation #biotech #biotechstartups #biotechinnovation #biotechnology #science #sciencepodcast #scienceandtech #podcastclips #podcastshorts
▶️ Guest: Andrew Hurder, Field Application Scientist at Artel (Advanced Instruments)
🎙 Hosts: Sura Hadi, Mike Ouren & Elizabeth Rodziewicz
📻 In this episode of Automation in the Wild - titled “Hands-On with Lab Automation: Experiences from the Field with Andrew Hurder” - we drop straight into the chaos, comedy, and challenges of real-world lab automation.
Andrew Hurder joins the crew to share stories from the trenches - where cleaning staff punch robots, DNA from celebrities gets sequenced, and canine blood breaks everything. From field deployment to startup growing pains, this one’s for anyone who’s ever had a robot do exactly what you told it to - just not what you meant.
🔹 Shadowboxing the ORCA arm (no, really)
🔹 Automating DNA from the Kardashian family
🔹 Why canine genomics is harder than human
🔹 The $100,000 mistake you can code around
🔹 What makes liquid classes so tricky
🔹 Building robust automation in a startup vs big pharma
🔹 How data layers and version control save entire labs
🔹 And yes… someone’s automation system lives in their backyard now
🍻 Whether you’re deep in biotech ops, just setting up your first STAR, or wondering why your robot hates you - this episode is everything Automation in the Wild was meant to be.
🎧 Subscribe for more episodes, automation fails, and behind-the-scenes stories from the frontlines of science & tech:
https://linktr.ee/helicalbrew
🔔 Subscribe & Like if your robot has ever silently judged your liquid class.
🎁 PICKS OF THE WEEK
📚 The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells - a series about a rogue security droid with anxiety https://amzn.to/3KqC1Fv
📺 Murderbot on Apple TV+ –-adaptation of the series, streaming now https://tv.apple.com/us/show/the-murderbot-diaries
🎮 [Redacted] Alpha-Test Game - under NDA, but dropping Summer 2025
🚫 (we can’t say more… yet)
🧢 Muscle Pump “Hans & Franz” Dumbbell Prop - the bit that pumps you up(Visual gag; no link available)
🚗 BMW Z3 Coupe (M Model) -The ultimate track-ready nerd carhttps://www.bmwusa.com/vehicles/m-models/z3-m.html
👕 Benchling Octopus Swag - Still the comfiest shirts in biotech https://www.benchling.com
🧦 DNA Socks - Classic science lab driphttps://www.biotechswag.com/products/dna-socks
⏱️ EPISODE CHAPTERS - NAVIGATE THE EPISODE
00:00 - The Magic Word That Broke the Episode
00:25 - Robots, Blood & Shadowboxing: Meet Andrew Hurder
03:19 - This Janitor and The Robot Arm
06:32 - Kardashian Blood vs K9 Blood: Automation Gets Into Reality TV
10:43 - Labs Keep Screwing This Up (And It's Expensive)
11:52 - Can You Automate a Single Cell? Yes… Barely.
14:32 - GitHub for Robots: Why Your Automation Needs Version Control
18:57 - Startups Move Fast (and Break Fewer Things)
23:00 - Modular Labs: Like LEGOs, but for Grownups
28:52 - Tesla with a Toyota Badge?! Plus Open-Source Lab Tools
32:02 - Pot, Protocols & Python: Where Automation’s Going
34:57 - AI is a Data Thief - and You’re Feeding It
36:19 - Potato.ai and the Future of Self-Driving Labs
40:22 - From Liberal Arts to Liquid Handling Whisperer
49:25 - That Time Arnold Schwarzenegger Showed Up at Work
🌐 Artel: https://www.artel.com
📍 Learn more about Andrew Hurder on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewhurder/
🤖 Helical Brew is where lab automation meets the wild frontier of innovation. Subscribe for stories from the builders, breakers, and believers in the next wave of biotech, automation, and scientific discovery.
📌 SHORTS (Grab Quick Highlights)
▶️ https://youtube.com/shorts/4W4uuAuhqe0?feature=share
▶️ https://youtube.com/shorts/mXr3C7ygocE?feature=share
#HelicalBrew #AutomationInTheWild #LabAutomation #LiquidHandling #AndrewHurder #SciencePodcast #OrcaFail #KardashianDNA #BiotechHumor #LabFails #HelicalBrewPodcast #ViralScience #FieldScience #TechPodcast #BiotechStories #BiotechStartup #ScienceTalk #AutomationEngineer #PodcastShorts #RoboticsFails #ScientistLife #AutomationFails #ViralClip #HelicalBrew #viralshortsvideo #viralreels #viralvideos
▶️ Guests: None – It’s just us this time
🎙 Hosts: Sura Hadi & Mike Ouren
📻 This episode of Helical Brew takes a break from guest interviews and dives into the chaos, comedy, and commentary that happens when two automation nerds are left alone with coffee, curved monitors, and too many dogs.
From shrinkflation and Lego Ferraris to parenting via machete and skateboarding through life, this one's a raw slice of real-life science storytelling. If you’ve ever sent a celebrity a hat, mourned a hamster, or tried to podcast with pets - this episode’s for you.
🔹 Capitalism, oatmeal, and other modern absurdities
🔹 Home studios and building a podcast brand
🔹 Parenting, pets, and pop culture rants
🔹 LEGO Ferraris, modular homes & adult hobbies
🔹 Seth Rogen, Seth Green & hat diplomacy
🔹 Tall people, airplane bins & the dream of travel
🔹 Deep thoughts on impermanence and podcasting
🍻 Whether you're tuning in from a lab bench, a skatepark, or your morning commute - grab your brew and enjoy the ride.
🎧 Subscribe for more episodes, behind-the-scenes banter, and viral tech commentary:https://linktr.ee/helicalbrew
🔔 Subscribe & Like if you’ve ever had a sibling call three times in a row and still not get the hint.
⏱️ EPISODE CHAPTERS – NAVIGATE THE EPISODE
00:00 – Cold Open: Morning vibes and LED panels
00:32 – Podcast series updates: AI, Automation, and Science Means Business
02:54 – Ingrid's episode and podcast first-timers
04:47 – Seth Rogen, shoutouts & sending hats
07:00 – Oscars awkward moments & Will Smith slap 08:50 – Tariffs, travel, and shrinkflation
11:40 – On impermanence: Buddhist sand art & Ferris Bueller wisdom
13:40 – Zombies, Modern Warfare & surround sound gameplay
16:05 – Skateboarding, adrenaline, and parenting hobbies
18:35 – Dive certifications, shark movies, and future travel
20:20 – Helical Brew in Hamburg, giveaways & hats
22:30 – Curved monitors vs dual screens
24:20 – Apple ecosystem perks & tech frustrations
26:30 – Family calling habits & digital boundaries
28:00 – Podcasting with horses? YouTube envy
29:15 – Hollywood talk: RDJ, Deadpool, Ryan Reynolds
31:10 – Connectors, Robot Chicken, and the Helical logo
33:20 – YouTube vs Facebook features & DNA history
35:00 – Tech gear talk: iPads, Mac Minis & Windows Parallels
36:40 – LEGO Ferrari, OCD builds & design admiration
39:10 – Travel, modular homes & Formula 1 LEGO crashes
41:15 – Skateparks, dive dreams & the adrenaline lifestyle
43:40 – Dog hotels, cat attitudes & goodbye from Helical Brew
🌐 Email us to join the show: helicalbrew@gmail.com
🧢 Yes, we’ll send you a hat if you’re cool (or subscribed).
📍 TikTok, Shorts & more: [@helicalbrew]
🤖 Helical Brew is where science meets culture, caffeine, and chaos.Subscribe for real-life stories from the edge of innovation, family life, and podcasting survival.
📌 SHORTS (Catch up on viral clips from this episode!)
▶️ https://youtube.com/shorts/xKXl23ndgjg?feature=share
▶️ https://youtube.com/shorts/BTBwp7sK6sU?feature=share
#HelicalBrew #UnfilteredBrew #SciencePodcast #TechCulture #Shrinkflation #AutomationLife #SkateboardingDad #ParentingWithPets #PodcastHumor #LegoBuilds #ScienceTalk #SethRogen #CapitalismSatire #PodcastClips #ViralTech #FunnyPodcast #BehindTheScenes #viralshort #viralvideo #viralreels #viralshorts #viralvideos #helicalbrewintermission
▶️ Guest: Ingrid Barbosa-Farias, Founder of SimAtomic
🎙 Hosts: Sura Hadi, Mike Ouren & Elizabeth Rodziewicz
📻 This episode of AI Thought Leaders dives into the powerful intersection of molecular simulations and AI - and how one founder is using smarter algorithms to accelerate drug discovery and reduce R&D costs by up to 200x.
Ingrid Barbosa-Farias shares her journey from biotech bench scientist to founder of SimAtomic, a no-code platform making molecular dynamics simulations accessible to everyone - not just elite pharma labs. We explore how generative models are replacing traditional docking, what makes collagen so hard to model, and why reasoning-based AI could change medicine forever.
🔹 What SimAtomic is doing to democratize simulation
🔹 $100 in GPU = $20,000 saved in the lab🔹 Why smarter models overtakes more data
🔹 Simulating entire cells - and beyond
🔹 The dark side of AI’s “black box” problem
🔹 How founders and individuals can compete with Big Pharma
🔹 And yes… the AI model that says “It’s a T cell” every time
🍻 Whether you're building a biotech company, training models, or just wondering what AI can really do in drug discovery - this one’s for you.
🎧 Subscribe for more episodes, expert breakdowns, and behind-the-scenes stories from the future of science:
https://linktr.ee/helicalbrew
🔔 Subscribe & Like if you’ve ever had an AI give you a hilariously wrong answer.
⏱️ EPISODE CHAPTERS - NAVIGATE THE EPISODE
00:00 – Cold Open: What if AI could cut drug discovery time in half?
00:32 – Welcome to AI Thought Leaders w/ Ingred Barbosa-Farias
02:34 – From Biologist to Founder: The Simatomic Origin Story
04:12 – What’s New: AI + Molecular Simulations
05:22 – Making Simulations Faster with Machine Learning
06:39 – Why Simulating Collagen Could Transform Cancer Research
07:44 – Real-World Use Cases: Speed + Accuracy with AI
08:26 – Docking vs. Dynamics: Explained for Non-Experts
09:41 – How Simulations Save $20,000 in Wet Lab Costs
12:34 – What’s Holding Back AI in Biology?
14:26 – Data Access, IP Walls & Collaboration Barriers
18:44 – Are AI-Designed Drugs Almost Here?24:33 – The Need for Logic-Based AI Models
27:43 – Can Small Startups Compete in This Space?
29:21 – From Sci-Fi to Spock: When AI Reasons Logically
35:18 – Simatomic Launch & First Research Collaborations
36:57 – Simulating Entire Cells & In Silico Experiments
40:03 – Where to Find Simatomic
41:30 – Final Thoughts + Outro
🌐 Simatomic: https://www.simatomic.com
🤖 Helical Brew is where AI meets science and discovery.Subscribe for more episodes from the innovators driving the next wave of biotech, automation, and artificial intelligence.
📌 SHORTS (Grab Quick Highlights)
▶️ https://youtube.com/shorts/WMOpumVAkQk?feature=share
▶️ https://youtube.com/shorts/QLYdKGPhVPk?feature=share
#HelicalBrew #AIThoughtLeaders #SimAtomic #DrugDiscovery #MolecularSimulation #AIinBiotech #AlphaFold #SciencePodcast #WomenInSTEM #BiotechInnovation #ViralScience #ViralAI #ViralTech #BiotechStartup #ScienceTalk #PodcastClips #HelicalBrewPodcast #podcast #viralshort #viralvideo #viralvideoshorts #ai #biotech
▶️ Guest: Tim Verweij, Global Automation Expert, Lab Services B.V.
🎙 Hosts: Sura Hadi & Mike Ouren
📻 This episode of Automation in the Wild explores what actually makes automation successful - and why simplicity, trust, and saying no are more powerful than the flashiest robot on the showroom floor.
Tim Verweij walks us through his journey from hands-on scientist to global automation leader. We get into real-world system design, lessons from stubborn hardware, and why flashy tech might just be your worst investment.
🔹 When saying "no" to a client can save the whole project
🔹 Why simple beats shiny (every time)
🔹 Designing systems that don’t break
🔹 24/7 automation that outlasts its service contracts
🔹 The art of modularity, scaling, and real-world success
🔹 Why AI is more than hype—but not your replacement (yet)
🔹 And yes... automation for weed-growing in 96-well plates
🍻 Whether you're scaling your first workcell or pitching a 300m² tender, this episode breaks down the invisible work of making automation actually work.
🎧 Subscribe for more episodes, automation case studies, and raw conversations from the front lines of biotech and lab innovation:https://linktr.ee/helicalbrew
🔔 Subscribe & Like if you’ve ever had to simplify something that looked good on paper.
⏱️ EPISODE CHAPTERS - NAVIGATE THE EPISODE
00:00 Cold Open – Automation is inevitable
00:18 Welcome to Helical Brew + Meet Tim
03:00 From J&J to Global Automation Expert
06:30 What Real Automation Success Looks Like
10:00 The Power of Saying No to Clients
14:20 Why Flashy Tech Can Hurt Projects
18:40 Simplicity, Trust & System Design
23:00 Modularity, Scaling & Planning for Growth
28:00 AI in Lab Automation: Real Talk
33:00 Home Automation Meets Lab Logic
36:45 Picks of the Week
41:30 Final Thoughts & Sign-Off
📌 SHORTS (Grab Quick Highlights)
▶️ • Why Automation Fails in Real Labs #he...
▶️ • AI in Science: Helpful or Making Us S...
#HelicalBrew #AutomationInTheWild #LabAutomation #BiotechPodcast #AutomationDesign #TimVerweij #ModularAutomation #SimplicityWins #ScienceCulture #EngineeringTrust #SciencePodcast #PodcastClips #BiotechInnovation #TechTalk #SmartLab #RoboticsEngineering #HelicalBrewPodcast #AutomationThatWorks #podcast #viralvideo #funny #viralshort #science #biotech #biotechstartups #viralshorts #viralvideos #viralvideoshorts
▶️ Hosts: Sura Hadi & Mike Ouren📻 Between AI episodes, we’re keeping it casual - over earthquakes, TikTok confessions, Amazon scams, PS5 dreams, and nostalgic tales of moving and gaming through the decades.This Helical Brew Intermission brings Sura and Mike into an unfiltered conversation across tech chaos, gaming nostalgia, and retail horror stories, all fueled by caffeine and a little friendly PS4 shaming.🔹 Earthquake dog-parent panic in San Diego🔹 Why we finally joined TikTok (and what Helix Brewing has to do with it)🔹 Amazon scams, fake returns, and the art of "just throw it away"🔹 Gaming dreams: PS5 upgrades, F1 racing, Verdansk casuals & The Sims🔹 How moving houses makes you a minimalist (or a madman)🔹 Call of Duty, Mortal Kombat, Civilization — the games that keep on giving🍻 Whether you're earthquake-dodging, gaming marathoning, or just TikToking into the future - we’ve got your back.🎧 Subscribe for more episodes, AI deep-dives, and stories from the bleeding edge of science, tech, and culture: https://linktr.ee/helicalbrew📅 Episode Premiere: Sunday at 7:00 AM PT🎙 Join the conversation next week!🔔 Subscribe & Like if this made you laugh, cringe, or feel seen.⏱️ EPISODE CHAPTERS - NAVIGATE THE EPISODE00:00 Cold Open: Disappearing Chairs & Gamer Chaos00:24 Welcome to Helical Brew + TikTok Launch02:04 Helix Brewing + Korean BBQ Adventures04:22 Earthquake Hits During Recording06:34 Landlines and RJ11 Relics07:13 Scotch Glass Wars & Barkeeper Memories09:18 Arabic Love Words and French-Arabic Rap13:11 Bootleg DVDs & Amazon Scams16:00 Retail Scams at Target + Return Horror Stories20:04 Amazon Delivery Rants and Uber Eats Fails22:03 Park the Car: Boston Parking App Idea24:35 Bay Area vs San Diego: Pace of Life29:18 TikTok Launch + Potato AI Gets Funded34:40 Gaming Dreams: Verdansk Casuals & Future Stream49:21 Outro: Subscribe and Follow Helical Brew!📌 NEED QUICK HIGHLIGHTS? WATCH OUR SHORTS:▶️ https://youtube.com/shorts/OTisxd1Eims?si=QSs-xC4-8ytkua87▶️ https://youtube.com/shorts/4ADGHGl0dRs?si=SA_I4oEAPAkl2vaE▶️ https://youtube.com/shorts/Nk6FO18GhxA?si=1K1McxXaRju33W3g▶️ https://youtube.com/shorts/Lnjg8sKZ8kA?si=acpCoNR7D0HroDxB▶️ https://youtube.com/shorts/nQpD8mZJk4o?si=07CNW5Uovu817vt2#HelicalBrew #HelicalBrewIntermission #Podcast #ScienceCulture #GamingPodcast #TechChaos #TikTokLaunch #PS5Upgrade #EarthquakeStories #AmazonFails #ScienceHumor #PodcastLife #SciComm #NerdCulture #HelixBrewing #viralshort #biotech #funny #podcastclips #labautomation #science #viralshorts #viralreels #science #helicalbrew #podcastlife #gamingcommunity #tiktoklaunch #amazonfinds
