David Carroll, president & co-founder of CU Aerospace (UIUC B.S./M.S./Ph.D.), walked away from a top university post in 1998 to build a rocket company in the Illinois cornfields. A laser scientist by training, he didn’t stay in theory—he shipped: electric CubeSat engines, plasma systems, high-energy lasers, and even a genetic-algorithm tool that jumped from lab code to a cancer operating room.

This conversation is a builder’s tour of how space actually gets made—and what’s at stake now. We trace the arc from lasers to flight hardware, from test-to-failure scrappiness to NASA-level safety, and from a small Midwestern shop to engines headed for orbit. Along the way: why smallsats matter more than slogans, the case for high-power electric propulsion (magnetoplasmadynamic, or MPD, thrusters), and how China’s Moon timeline and SpaceX/Starlink’s launch cadence are quietly setting the rules of the game.

If you’re choosing what to study, where to live, or which problems to bet your twenties on, this is a field guide: build outside the coasts, turn bullets into cannonballs, ship before you polish, and keep going when the first three proposals get rejected. Cornfields to orbit isn’t a metaphor. It’s a map.

This is The UIUC Talkshow, and this is our conversation with David Carroll.

EPISODE LINKS:

• CU Aerospace Website
• Kim Stanley Robinson's Aurora
• Good to Great by Jim Collins

About CU AerospaceFounded in 1998, CU Aerospace (CUA) operates a 10,000-sq-ft mixed office/lab facility in Champaign, Illinois, with cleanrooms, a rapid-prototyping shop, and dedicated propulsion and plasma labs. CUA's hardware has been supported by NASA, DoD customers, and commercial partners.OUTLINE:0:00 - Introduction0:16 - The Space Race3:33 - SpaceX8:40 - The Next Big Aerospace Company11:10 - What Would David Carroll Study in College today?13:40 - What Does It Take to Become an Astronaut?18:28 - Near-Death Experience as a Pilot20:27 - The Interplay of Politics in Science25:44 - David's Research with Missiles and Lasers32:01 - Why Venture Capitalists don't like Aerospace Companies34:29 - Importance of Social Recognition/Do Awards mean anything?35:07 - Genetic Algorithms41:38 - What Drives You?43:47 - Coming to Champaign, IL47:13 - The Story Behind "CU Aerospace"49:12 - Lessons from working at McDonald's53:26 - David's Daughters55:45 - Parenting59:37 - David's Musical Talents1:00:46 - Future of Space Propulsion1:02:57 - Interstellar Travel/Physics of the Future1:08:19 - CU Aerospace's Projects1:17:08 - Hardest Part of Running a Business1:18:26 - Building a Mountain in Champaign1:21:27 - Advice for Young People🚥Overrated or Underrated Section 🚥1:24:44 - Good to Great 📕1:26:20 - eVTOLs ✈️1:29:49 - Kelly Johnson (Designer of Black Bird) 🦨1:30:32 - Solar Sail ☀️1:33:53 - Life in the Universe 🌌1:36:55 - Closing WordsJoin The UIUC Talkshow Community!Become part of our community and unlock exclusive access to the latest episodes, behind-the-scenes content, and special updates. Be the first to know about upcoming guests and new episodes!Join here: https://uiuctalkshow.substack.com/What is the UIUC Talkshow?Our goal with this show is to introduce you to the most interesting people with the most interesting ideas.Consider Supporting UsIf you enjoy our talk show and videos, your support means the world to us! Your contributions help us keep the show running and focus on creating interesting conversations with interesting people. Every dollar goes towards our basic needs, allowing us to dedicate more time and energy to this project. Support us here: https://www.patreon.com/uiuctalkshowLearn more about Juan David & Aaryaman:AaryamanWebsiteLinkedIn Twitter Juan DavidWebsite TwitterLinkedInInstagram

<p>Geoffrey Challen is a Computer Science Professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.</p>

<p>With some professors, there&#39;s a before and after in your reality as a student—you see things differently. For me, that was Challen&#39;s CS 125 (now called CS 124).</p>

<p>After I picked up my phone and called the head of physics, he said I couldn&#39;t take Physics 211 because my transcript didn&#39;t show calculus. Even though I knew it and had taught myself, he didn&#39;t let me take it and hung up on me. I found myself with an open spot, and it was this class I&#39;d heard so much about—CS 125 with Geoffrey Challen. I&#39;d heard it was tough, but he was unique and idiosyncratic, and that was interesting, so I took the bait.</p>

<p>And it changed me. Not necessarily because of anything I learned, although it helped my understanding of how technology worked, but because of how he saw the world. He spoke openly, questioned norms, and never just went through the motions. </p>

<p>Unlike typical professors—front-row nerds and teacher&#39;s pets—Challen is a hacker, a rebel. He fell asleep in classes, sat in the back, resisted authority, and now builds his courses around that spirit.</p>

<p>His iconic cap reads τέχνῃ—the ancient Greek root of the word technology—which means &quot;the art and skill of making.&quot; For Challen, teaching technology isn&#39;t just about tools or code; it&#39;s about guiding students to become creators. After all, perhaps we shouldn&#39;t be called Homo sapiens (the wise ones), but Homo technologicus—those who craft, build, and innovate through τέχνῃ.</p>

<p>Challen might not be considered the wisest by some of his colleagues, but the future—reflected in today’s students—seems to know better. They don’t call him “professor” as much as they call him “dope” or “based.”</p>

<p>That&#39;s what you get with Challen—not just a professor, but someone who shows you a different way to see the world, to resist conformity, to build things that you want. </p>

<p>Someone who proves that being yourself, even when it costs you, is worth it.</p>

<p><em>EPISODE LINKS:</em></p>

<ul>

<li>Geoffrey Challen&#39;s Website: <a href="https://www.geoffreychallen.com/">https://www.geoffreychallen.com/</a></li>

<li>Geoffrey Challen&#39;s Learn CS Website: <a href="https://www.learncs.online/">https://www.learncs.online/</a></li>

<li>Geoffrey Challen&#39;s Society and Technology Class: <a href="https://archive.is/SdNAn">https://archive.is/SdNAn</a></li>

<li>Geoffrey Challen&#39;s Reddit Account: <a href="https://www.reddit.com/user/geoffreychallen/comments/?sort=top">https://www.reddit.com/user/geoffreychallen/comments/?sort=top</a></li>

</ul>

<p><em>Books Mentioned</em></p>

<ul>

<li>When Things Go Missing by Kathryn Schulz: <a href="https://archive.is/J5ztk">https://archive.is/J5ztk</a></li>

<li>Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders: <a href="https://amzn.to/4k0FdbP">https://amzn.to/4k0FdbP</a></li>

<li>Being Wrong by Kathryn Schulz: <a href="https://amzn.to/43Umit4">https://amzn.to/43Umit4</a></li>

<li>Coders by Clive Thompson: <a href="https://amzn.to/4jJk1GS">https://amzn.to/4jJk1GS</a></li>

<li>The Overstory by Richard Powers: <a href="https://amzn.to/4mUCG5g">https://amzn.to/4mUCG5g</a></li>

<li>Bewilderment by Richard Powers: <a href="https://amzn.to/446zYSS">https://amzn.to/446zYSS</a></li>

<li>The Ground Beneath Her Feet by Salman Rushdie: <a href="https://amzn.to/45fxEdx">https://amzn.to/45fxEdx</a></li>

<p>Stuart E. Eizenstat, a seasoned American diplomat and former ambassador to the European Union, offers an exploration of the craft of negotiation.</p>

<p>Drawing on decades of experience and the insights of hundreds of interviews—including with titans like Henry Kissinger and James Baker—his latest book, <em>The Art of Diplomacy,</em> serves as a masterclass in both strategy and empathy.</p>

<p>Eizenstat emphasizes the power of truly listening, finding common ground, and engaging with respect, all of which are vital in both high-stakes international negotiations and everyday interactions. </p>

<p>This conversation not only unpacks the nuanced skills behind effective diplomacy but also tackles contemporary global challenges—from the tensions in Ukraine to the complexities in the Middle East and Venezuela—underscoring the indispensable role of diplomacy in building a peaceful future.</p>

<p><em>EPISODE LINKS:</em></p>

<ul>

<li>The Art of Diplomacy: How American Negotiators Reached Historic Agreements that Changed the World: <a href="https://amzn.to/41VCbhS">https://amzn.to/41VCbhS</a></li>

<li>President Carter: The White House Years: <a href="https://amzn.to/4228VWL">https://amzn.to/4228VWL</a></li>

</ul>

<p><em>OUTLINE:</em></p>

<p>0:00 - Introduction</p>

<p>2:08 - How to Connect with People</p>

<p>4:20 - Henry Kissinger</p>

<p>8:11 - Creativity in Negotiation</p>

<p>9:50 - Ukraine</p>

<p>10:50 - Venezuela</p>

<p>11:11 - Closing Words</p>

<p><em>Join The UIUC Talkshow Community!</em>

Become part of our community and unlock exclusive access to the latest episodes, behind-the-scenes content, and special updates. Be the first to know about upcoming guests and new episodes!</p>

<p>Join here: <a href="https://uiuctalkshow.substack.com/">https://uiuctalkshow.substack.com/</a></p>

<p><em>SOCIAL:</em></p>

<ul>

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<li>Full episodes playlist: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1H9UJqXvJXr3qlx9c89Rv76c6IpnwGeC">https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1H9UJqXvJXr3qlx9c89Rv76c6IpnwGeC</a></li>

<li>Clips Channel: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@UIUCTalkshowClips">https://www.youtube.com/@UIUCTalkshowClips</a></li>

</ul>

<p><em>What is the UIUC Talkshow?</em>

Our goal with this show is to introduce you to the most interesting people with the most interesting ideas.</p>

<p><em>Consider Supporting Us</em>

If you enjoy our talk show and videos, your support means the world to us! Your contributions help us keep the show running and focus on creating interesting conversations with interesting people. Every dollar goes towards our basic needs, allowing us to dedicate more time and energy to this project. </p>

<p>Support us here: <a href="https://www.patreon.com/uiuctalkshow">https://www.patreon.com/uiuctalkshow</a></p>

<p><em>Join The UIUC Talkshow Community!</em>

Become part of our community and unlock exclusive access to the latest episodes, behind-the-scenes content, and special updates. Be the first to know about upcoming guests and new episodes.</p>

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Max Boot, a Washington Post columnist and author, discusses his decade-long journey researching and writing Reagan: His Life and Legend.

Through extensive archival research and interviews with nearly 100 people who knew Reagan, including Colin Powell and George Schultz, Boot reveals a more pragmatic president than commonly portrayed.

The conversation explores Reagan's ability to compromise on issues like immigration and nuclear arms, his development as a communicator across different media, and Boot's personal experience undertaking a 10-year writing project.

As a Soviet-born writer who later became an independent after leaving the Republican party, Boot offers unique insights into Reagan's presidency and legacy.

EPISODE LINKS:

• Reagan: His Life and Legend: https://amzn.to/435hD8U

OUTLINE:

0:00 - Introduction

1:27 - Publicity

1:56 - Why Reagan?

3:49 - Pragmatism

4:43 - Soviet Union

6:31 - 10-Year Commitment

11:01 - Reagan's Charisma

13:37 - Compromises

16:11 - Future

17:50 - Advice for young people

16:11 - Future

19:06 - Closing Words

Join The UIUC Talkshow Community!Become part of our community and unlock exclusive access to the latest episodes, behind-the-scenes content, and special updates. Be the first to know about upcoming guests and new episodes!

Join here: https://uiuctalkshow.substack.com/

SOCIAL:

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What is the UIUC Talkshow?Our goal with this show is to introduce you to the most interesting people with the most interesting ideas.

Consider Supporting UsIf you enjoy our talk show and videos, your support means the world to us! Your contributions help us keep the show running and focus on creating interesting conversations with interesting people. Every dollar goes towards our basic needs, allowing us to dedicate more time and energy to this project.

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Join The UIUC Talkshow Community!Become part of our community and unlock exclusive access to the latest episodes, behind-the-scenes content, and special updates. Be the first to know about upcoming guests and new episodes.

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Marie Arana is an author, former Washington Post reporter, and former Literary Director of the Library of Congress. Through her books and work, she has dedicated herself to creating a unified narrative for the Hispanic community, with notable works such as Bolívar: American Liberator, American Chica, and LatinoLand.

EPISODE LINKS:

Bolivar: American Liberator:https://amzn.to/4aPAvKU

LatinoLand:https://amzn.to/4jMQDAV

American Chica: Two Worlds, One Childhood:https://amzn.to/413DHPM

Other Marie Arana's Books:https://amzn.to/4gA2U94

OUTLINE:

0:00 - Introduction

1:36 - Dad: Unconditional Love

4:47 - Family Values

8:40 - Writing a Book in Spanish

10:27 - What Drives Marie Arana?

12:55 - Advice for Writers

16:01 - Latinos Don't Have a Unified Narrative

19:00 - Movies

22:46 - What's Marie Arana's Big Dream?

27:00 - Closing Words

SOCIAL:

• Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/uiuctalkshow
• X:https://twitter.com/uiuctalkshow
• TikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@uiuctalkshow
• Patreonhttps://www.patreon.com/uiuctalkshow
• Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/3ezoc4xJa4DrGq7N4lhqQn
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What is the UIUC Talkshow?

Our goal with this show is to introduce you to the most interesting people with the most interesting ideas.

Consider Supporting Us

If you enjoy our talk show and videos, your support means the world to us! Your contributions help us keep the show running and focus on creating interesting conversations with interesting people. Every dollar goes towards our basic needs, allowing us to dedicate more time and energy to this project.

Support us here:https://www.patreon.com/uiuctalkshow

Join The UIUC Talkshow Community!

Become part of our community and unlock exclusive access to the latest episodes, behind-the-scenes content, and special updates. Be the first to know about upcoming guests and new episodes!

Join here:https://uiuctalkshow.substack.com/

Learn more about Juan David & Aaryaman:

Aaryaman

Website:https://www.aaryamanpatel.com/

LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaryamanpatel/

Twitter:https://twitter.com/aaryamanpatel

Juan David

Website:https://www.juandavidcampolargo.com/

Twitter:https://twitter.com/jdcampolargo

LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/jdcampolargo

Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/jdcampolargo/

Margaret Fleck and David Forsyth are computer science professors at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC).

In this episode, we have the ultimate computer science power couple: Margaret Fleck and David Forsyth. Together, they bring a rare mix of academic brilliance, humor, and a knack for keeping students hooked—plus, they’re married, which only adds to the chemistry.

Margaret Fleck is all about practical teaching. With a background from MIT and Yale, she could easily go the high-theory route, but instead, she’s focused on making learning accessible. Her courses are known for their clear structure, simple materials, and frequent small assignments to keep students engaged. She’s developed and reworked some of UIUC’s most essential computer science courses, like Artificial Intelligence (CS 440) and Discrete Structures (CS 173)—and she even wrote textbooks and created video lectures to help students nail down tough concepts. If you’re ever struggling to understand a CS topic, Fleck’s teaching style is like a breath of fresh air.

Then there’s David Forsyth—a big name in computer vision, who brings wizard-level knowledge to the table. Think of him as the Dumbledore of computer science, not just because he actually looks a bit like him (beard and all) but because he’s a mentor who doesn’t just find the best students—he shapes them into the best versions of themselves. Forsyth has published over 130 papers, co-authored the widely-used textbook Computer Vision: A Modern Approach, and even served as a leader for key conferences in the field. His latest research digs into machine learning, graphics, and making AI smarter in more human-like ways, and he’s often training models on his own GPU, pouring the same energy into his work that he does into teaching.

These two aren’t just here to talk about computer science, though.

They go deep into some unfiltered opinions on college life, like why the whole “passion” narrative might be overrated and why more students need to be rebels if they want to truly make the most out of their time at university.

They also reveal their own college experiences: Forsyth shares how he made it through tricky subjects (last-minute cramming, anyone?), while Fleck talks about how she keeps students learning without all the usual academic pressure.

You’ll find out about how Fleck and Forsyth first met—a story that’s both geeky and endearing, showing that love can definitely bloom in the halls of academia.

Whether you’re into AI, wondering about college life, or just want to know how two brilliant minds balance work, love, and pushing boundaries, this is one conversation you won’t want to miss.

EPISODE LINKS:

Margaret Fleck's Website: https://mfleck.cs.illinois.edu/

David Forsyth's Website: http://luthuli.cs.uiuc.edu/~daf/

Finding Naked People: http://luthuli.cs.uiuc.edu/~daf/papers/naked.pdf

OUTLINE:

0:00 - Introduction

0:54 - How to Maximize College

5:46 - Leetcode & Passion is a scam

11:32 - Forsyth Still Struggles with Induction

15:27 - Why College Needs Rebels

25:24 - Universities Won't Change Your Life—You Will

30:24 - Is College Curriculum Broken?

35:16 - Apathy in College

38:18 - Pushing Limits in College

43:24 - How Forsyth Crammed for Exams

44:25 - Love: How Forsyth & Fleck First Met ❤️❤️

50:02 - AI and the Limits of LLMs

1:00:54 - ChatGPT: Homework Solver or Google's Nightmare?

1:15:12 - Worry Less, Focus More

1:21:25 - Diving & Music

1:27:01 - The Hardest Problem in Computer Vision

1:29:15 - Advice for Young People

🚥Overrated or Underrated Section 🚥

1:33:42 - 🫖 Tea

1:34:07 - 😋 UIUC Reddit

1:36:22 - 🤿 Underwater Diving

1:39:33 - 🧙‍♀️ Salem Witch Trials

👥Audience Q&A👥

1:42:21 - Morality of AI: Can Corporations Truly Be Ethical?

1:44:59 - Is Mimicking Biology the Key to Solving Intelligence?

1:47:52- Convolutional Neural Networks: Math Over Biology

1:49:35 - Why Images Aren't Just Matrices

1:51:50 - Will AI Change How We Make and Appreciate Art?

1:57:47 - Closing Words

SOCIAL:

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What is the UIUC Talkshow? Our goal with this show is to introduce you to the most interesting people with the most interesting ideas.

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Bret Bielema is the Head Football Coach at the University of Illinois.

0:00 - Introduction

0:41 - How To Be The Best You

3:01 - Losing his Mother

4:34 - Hard Conversations

6:51 - Relationships

8:24 - What Drives Bret Bielema?

9:30 - Luck

10:57 - How to plan

13:07 - Why Coaching?

14:23 - Consistency

18:08 - Bret Bielema's Daughters.

19:39 - Failures

21:50 - How to work hard (and smart)

23:28 - Advice for young people

🚥Overrated or Underrated 🚥

25:08 - 🐶 Gifting Your Wife Puppies

25:40 - 🤼 Wrestling

26:07 - ⚽️ "Football"

26:18 - 🤳 Social media

27:36 - Closing Words *Consider Supporting Us*

If you enjoy our talk show and videos, your support means the world to us! Your contributions help us keep the show running and focus on creating interesting conversations with interesting people. Every dollar goes towards our basic needs, allowing us to dedicate more time and energy to this project. Support us here: https://www.patreon.com/uiuctalkshow *Join The UIUC Talkshow Community!*

Become part of our community and unlock exclusive access to the latest episodes, behind-the-scenes content, and special updates. Be the first to know about upcoming guests and new episodes. Join here: https://uiuctalkshow.substack.com/ *SOCIAL:* - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uiuctalkshow - X: https://twitter.com/uiuctalkshow - TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@uiuctalkshow - Patreon https://www.patreon.com/uiuctalkshow - Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3ezoc4xJa4DrGq7N4lhqQn - Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-uiuc-talkshow/id1611427075 - Full episodes playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1H9UJqXvJXr3qlx9c89Rv76c6IpnwGeC - Clips Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@UIUCTalkshowClips *What is The UIUC Talkshow?*

Our goal with this show is to introduce you to the most interesting people with the most interesting ideas from the UIUC campus. *Learn more about Juan David & Aaryaman:* Aaryaman

Website: https://www.aaryamanpatel.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaryamanpatel/

X: https://twitter.com/aaryamanpatel Juan David

Website: https://www.juandavidcampolargo.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jdcampolargo

X: https://twitter.com/jdcampolargo

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jdcampolargo/

David Ruzic is a Nuclear Engineering Professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and is widely recognized as The Illinois Energy Prof.

EPISODE LINKS:

• David Ruzic's YouTube Channel: @illinoisenergyprof6878
• David Ruzic's UIUC Website: https://ece.illinois.edu/about/directory/affiliates/druzic
• David Ruzic's Research Lab: https://cpmi.illinois.edu/about-cpmi/
• David Ruzic's Research Topics: https://ipi.illinois.edu/research/

OUTLINE:

0:00 - Introduction

1:10 - Father

3:52 - Childhood

6:17 - Why Professor?

9:47 - Secrets to Thriving as a Professor

15:06 - How to Master The Bureaucracy

18:21 - How to Make People Care About Your Work

21:02 - Teaching with Explosives 🧨

31:41 - Granddaughter

34:40 - Cold Fusion

37:50 - Fusion Energy

42:15 - God

45:58 - Manhattan Project

54:04 - Moore's Law

57:33 - Love

1:01:38 - Care

1:01:19 - Advice for young people

🚥Overrated or Underrated 🚥

1:06:17 - 🥵 Barbie

1:07:08 - 🎹 Piano

1:08:15 - 🏄‍♂️ Surfing

1:08:31 - 🐊 Crocs

1:09:51 - ☢️ Institute for Advanced Study

1:10:53 - Message David Ruzic's Mom & Wife

1:11:50 - Closing words

Consider Supporting Us

If you enjoy our talk show and videos, your support means the world to us! Your contributions help us keep the show running and focus on creating interesting conversations with interesting people. Every dollar goes towards our basic needs, allowing us to dedicate more time and energy to this project.

Support us here: https://www.patreon.com/uiuctalkshow

SOCIAL:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uiuctalkshow
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• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-uiuc-talkshow/id1611427075
• Full episodes playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1H9UJqXvJXr3qlx9c89Rv76c6IpnwGeC
• Clips Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@UIUCTalkshowClips

What is The UIUC Talkshow?

Our goal with this show is to introduce you to the most interesting people with the most interesting ideas from the UIUC campus.

Learn more about Juan David & Aaryaman:

Aaryaman

• Website: https://www.aaryamanpatel.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaryamanpatel/
• X: https://twitter.com/aaryamanpatel

Juan David

• Website: https://www.juandavidcampolargo.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jdcampolargo

Carla Scaletti and Kurt Hebel are the founders of Symbolic Sound, creators of the Kyma Sound Design Environment.

You may not have heard of the company or its founders, but you have definitely heard its products in films like WALL•E, The Dark Knight, Finding Nemo, games like World of Warcraft, Quake II, Mirror's Edge, and the music of A.R. Rahman.

In this episode, Carla and Kurt take us behind the scenes, revealing their philosophy of being “toolmakers” for artists, musicians, and sound designers. They open up about their mission to create tools that enable people to push the boundaries of audio creativity.

This conversation touches on the profound intersection of sound, science, and emotion. From the sonification of black holes to music’s power in conveying complex scientific ideas, Carla and Kurt challenge us to think differently about the role of sound in shaping our world.

One of the standout themes is how music can transcend time—although it unfolds over time, listening to music can create a sensation of stepping outside of time altogether. Composers, like those using Kyma, can manipulate the flow of time, making it feel like it’s speeding up or slowing down, creating emotional arcs that resonate deeply with listeners.

Carla and Kurt also discuss how sound shapes thought, arguing that people who study music think about time differently. In fact, they suggest music is a kind of sonification of the composer’s inner mental state. When we listen, we transpose that state onto ourselves, making music one of the most profoundly meaningful forms of human expression.

They also talk about the human instinct for storytelling—just as visual art ranges from literal to abstract, so too can music, ranging from highly structured compositions to avant-garde soundscapes. Even in abstract forms, humans naturally find meaning by recognizing patterns and emotions within sound.

This episode offers a rare glimpse into the minds of two innovators who have significantly influenced the field of sound design and music technology. It's a deep exploration of the philosophy of sound, the future of music, and life itself.

This is our conversation with Carla Scaletti and Kurt Hebel, the brilliant minds behind Symbolic Sound Corporation and the Kyma Sound Design Environment.

EPISODE LINKS: Symbolic Sound: https://kyma.symbolicsound.com/

Carla Scaletti's Website: https://carlascaletti.com/

Kyma's Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kyma_(sound_design_language)

ILLIAC Supercomputer: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ILLIAC

PLATO: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PLATO_(computer_system)

Don Bitzer: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Bitzer

OUTLINE:

0:00 - Introduction

0:38 - Cost of Education

3:35 - Aaryaman's Future Plans

12:37 - Is the Universe a Computation?

19:02 - Do Gods Have Religion?

22:16 - No sound without time

23:43 - The Sound of a Black Hole

30:05 - The Sonification of Science

41:05 - Music & Transcendence

49:53 - How to Describe Music with Words?

56:04 - Carla Scaletti's Compositions

1:00:55 - A Guide to Music Appreciation

1:14:47 - A.R. Rahman

1:19:54 - WALL-E

1:23:28 - Musical Instruments

1:27:52 - The Music of the Future

1:38:40 - How to Learn

1:44:22 - Interdisciplinary Collaboration

1:46:44 - Closing words

Leon Dash is a professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, a former reporter for the Washington Post, and a Pulitzer Prize winner.

Dash introduces himself as a "barefoot boy from Harlem," a humbling reminder of his roots that keeps him grounded.

Imagine a young Leon Dash, shivering in the cold Washington winter, desperately seeking an indoor job. With nothing but hope and determination, he walks into Robert Kennedy's senatorial office, heart pounding, palms sweating. No luck there, but a sympathetic staffer points him towards the Washington Post. In a moment of serendipity, Dash races across town in a taxi, praying there isn't already a line of applicants.

He arrives, breathless, to find he's the only one there.

What started as a night copyboy position in 1965, born out of pure necessity, would blossom into a distinguished career spanning decades.

Throughout his career, Dash consistently challenged middle-class assumptions about poverty and social issues. His Pulitzer Prize-winning series, "Rosa Lee: A Generational Tale of Poverty and Survival in Urban America," is more than a story - it's a four-year journey into the heart of urban poverty.

Dash didn't just interview his subjects; he lived among them, breathing the same air, facing the same daily struggles. He slept in cockroach-infested apartments, witnessed the cycle of addiction and despair firsthand, and saw how teenage pregnancy wasn't just a statistic, but a rite of passage for many.

His work forces us to confront uncomfortable truths: that the American Dream is often just that - a dream - for those trapped in generational poverty. It challenges us to question our assumptions and to see the humanity in those society often overlooks.

Leon Dash's work challenges us to look beyond our own experiences, to seek understanding in the stories of others, and to never stop questioning the world around us. In a time when division seems to be the norm, Dash's career reminds us of the importance of journalism that bridges gaps, challenges assumptions, and gives voice to the voiceless.

His story isn't just inspiring - it's a call to action.

It asks us to consider: What truths are we overlooking? Whose stories are we not hearing? And most importantly, what are we going to do about it?

As you watch this interview, let Dash's words sink in. Let them challenge you, inspire you, and maybe even change you. Because in the end, that's what great journalism - and great lives - do. They show us the world as it is, and inspire us to make it better.

EPISODE LINKS:

Leon Dash's Website: https://afro.illinois.edu/directory/profile/leondash

Leon Dash's X: https://x.com/DashDeCosta

Leon Dash's Pulitzer Prize-Winning Work: https://www.pulitzer.org/winners/leon-dash-and-lucian-perkins

Rosa Lee (book): https://amzn.to/3yT323y

When Children Want Children (book): https://amzn.to/3ACRQsB

For timestamps, visit our Youtube Channel

This is the 'After Hours' (Extended Version) of our conversation with Jolim, where we talk about the different ways to interpret failure, dealing with the pressure of academics, viewing time as an investment, being grateful, and finally compete in a fierce arm wrestling contest 💪🏼 Listen to the Full Episode on 'The UIUC Talkshow': here GUEST BIO: Jolim Chiu is an aspiring physicist and philosopher from the University of Illinois. He is one of our close friend and one of the deepest thinkers that we have met on campus. In this episode, we tackle the question, "What is the meaning of life?" Subscribe to The UIUC Talkshow Main Channel OUTLINE: 0:00 - Feeling nervous 4:41 - Fight Club: What emotion are you chasing? 7:36 - Arm Wrestling 10:46 - Chasing dreams or chasing money? 20:24 - This is what Philosophy is about💪🏼 21:40 - Jolim’s smile 23:05 - Chasing Goals 27:17 - Thinking about Grades 37:10 - Coping with Failure 42:25 - Interpreting Failure 45:35 - What happens after you die? 48:40 - Failure = Going to Hell? 52:00 - What are you grateful for? 53:11 - Fix You by Coldplay 55:12 - Becoming indifferent 56:50 - Fight Club 58:08 - Things on our mind 1:05:09 - Believe in yourself 1:07:53 - Writing for yourself 1:09:33 - Financial Security 1:10:20 - The Three Things 1:10:49 - “Man, you cappin!” 1:15:02 - Takeaways 1:21:11 - Closing words SOCIAL:

Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/uiuctalkshow⁠

Twitter: ⁠https://twitter.com/uiuctalkshow⁠

TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@uiuctalkshow⁠

Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/3ezoc4xJa4DrGq7N4lhqQn⁠

Apple Podcasts: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-uiuc-talkshow/id1611427075⁠

Full episodes playlist: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1H9UJqXvJXr3qlx9c89Rv76c6IpnwGeC⁠

Clips Channel: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@UIUCTalkshowClips⁠

What is the UIUC Talkshow?

Our goal with this show is to introduce you to the most interesting people with the most interesting ideas from the UIUC campus.

Learn more about Juan David & Aaryaman:

Aaryaman

Website: ⁠https://www.aaryamanpatel.com/⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaryamanpatel/⁠

Twitter: ⁠https://twitter.com/aaryamanpatel⁠

Juan David

Website: ⁠https://www.juandavidcampolargo.com/⁠

Twitter: ⁠https://twitter.com/jdcampolargo⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/jdcampolargo⁠

Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/jdcampolargo/

Jolim Chiu is an aspiring physicist and philosopher from the University of Illinois. He is one of our close friend and one of the deepest thinkers that we have met on campus. In this episode, we tackle the question, "What is the meaning of life?" Jolim has spent the better part of the last few years trying to get to the bottom of this question. He has created numerous models that has helped him make sense of subjects like faith, the after-life, and our goal as humans, some of which we uncover in this conversation. Jolim talks about how he gravitated towards video games and the numerous problems that he wants to find the answers to in his lifetime. We learned a lot from him during this conversation and shared a lot of our perspectives on these deep topics too. Due to the depth of the conversation, we decided to split the episode into two parts, with the other part currently published on the Clips Channel. Sit back, relax, and enjoy our conversation with Jolim Chiu. EPISODE LINKS: Pascal's wager: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pascal%27s_wager OUTLINE: 0:00 - Introduction 1:16 - What do you think about at night? 3:03 - The Interactive Action Model 11:26 - Life as a Christian 16:59 - Video Game Addiction 20:00 - Knowledge: Invented or Discovered? 27:32 - Becoming Agnostic 34:58 - The Afterlife 39:26 - The Art of Collaboration 46:47 - Should you follow your curiosity? 55:25 - Serendipity 1:05:05 - Vulnerability 1:08:22 - The After Life 1:12:18 - Alex Wang’s secret 1:15:48 - Advice for young people

SOCIAL:

Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/uiuctalkshow⁠

Twitter: ⁠https://twitter.com/uiuctalkshow⁠

TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@uiuctalkshow⁠

Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/3ezoc4xJa4DrGq7N4lhqQn⁠

Apple Podcasts: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-uiuc-talkshow/id1611427075⁠

Full episodes playlist: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1H9UJqXvJXr3qlx9c89Rv76c6IpnwGeC⁠

Clips Channel: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@UIUCTalkshowClips⁠

What is the UIUC Talkshow?

Our goal with this show is to introduce you to the most interesting people with the most interesting ideas from the UIUC campus.

Learn more about Juan David & Aaryaman:

Aaryaman

Website: ⁠https://www.aaryamanpatel.com/⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaryamanpatel/⁠

Twitter: ⁠https://twitter.com/aaryamanpatel⁠

Juan David

Website: ⁠https://www.juandavidcampolargo.com/⁠

Twitter: ⁠https://twitter.com/jdcampolargo⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/jdcampolargo⁠

Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/jdcampolargo/

Charles Gammie is a professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Born with an insatiable curiosity and a love for mathematics, Dr. Gammie's journey to the forefront of astrophysics was anything but ordinary.

Despite initially having ambitions of becoming a lawyer, a serendipitous encounter with a wise advisor steered him toward statistics and physics. Little did he know, this fateful decision would set him on a path toward the cosmos, propelling him into the world of astrophysics and a PhD he never envisioned.

Today, Dr. Gammie stands as a theoretical and computational astrophysicist whose research focuses on black holes, and the formation of stars, moons, and planets, where he has developed numerical methods for modeling relativistic plasmas, relativistic radiation magnetohydrodynamics, and radiative processes in hot plasmas.

Notably, Dr. Gammie co-led the theoretical modeling efforts for the Event Horizon Telescope (ETH) project, enabling the interpretation of the EHT data and the groundbreaking first-ever image of a supermassive black hole at the center of the M87 galaxy. This unprecedented collaboration across continents and disciplines showcased human ingenuity and the pursuit of knowledge.

In this conversation, Dr. Gammie shared profound insights into black holes, their mechanics, spinning nature, and implications for understanding time and space. He also explored existential topics like extraterrestrial life and reconciling science with religious beliefs, offering inspiring advice for young minds to embrace curiosity and the unconventional.

From the origins of "black holes" to the nature of time itself, this conversation was a captivating odyssey through the cosmos, guided by a brilliant scientific mind.

This is The UIUC Talkshow, and this is our conversation with Dr. Charles Gammie.

EPISODE LINKS:

Charles Gammie's Website: https://rainman.astro.illinois.edu/gammie/

Charles Gammie's UIUC Website: https://physics.illinois.edu/people/directory/profile/gammie

OUTLINE:

0:00 - Introduction

1:01 - Accretion disk

2:27 - How to model accretion disks

3:34 - How Graduate School works

5:09 - From Law to Astrophysics

10:42 - College: An Opportunity to Explore

16:01 - Childhood

21:43 - Bell Labs

25:10 - Golden Age of Astrophysics

28:02 - NASA

33:47 - Mars

41:13 - Interstellar Travel

45:52 - Gravity

50:57 - Black Holes

55:22 - Black Hole Formation

58:28 - Black Hole Image

1:02:28 - How to Make a Black Hole?

1:07:08 - Stephen Hawking

1:09:47 - Origin of "Black Hole"

1:12:03 - Time

1:19:47 - Advice for young people

1:24:52 - Dinosaurs

1:28:40 - The Story of the Black Hole Image

1:33:04 - Black Hole Videos

1:35:23 - Putting the Black Hole Picture Together

1:37:40 - Black Hole Spinning

1:41:11 - Moon Telescope

1:45:29 - Aliens

1:53:31 - Religion

🚥Overrated or Underrated Section 🚥

2:02:21 - ⚫️ The Black Hole from Interstellar

2:06:22 - 🎩 Generative AI

2:16:28 - 🐛 Wormholes

2:20:16 - Closing Words

Join Aaryaman and Juan David on a journey to Carbondale, Illinois, where they step inside Buckminster Fuller's iconic geodesic dome.
In this special episode of The UIUC Talkshow, we have a conversation with Cornelius Crane, former president of RBF Dome, and the late Jon Davey, within the Fuller Dome itself.
Buckminster Fuller was far more than just an architect and inventor - he was a boundless thinker driven by a profound philosophical quest.
After a period of intense self-reflection and an almost "out-of-body" experience, Fuller dedicated himself to uplifting humanity by "doing more with less." His inventions like the Dymaxion Car, House, Map, and geodesic domes were mere demonstrations of his ambitious 4D vision to unlock the fundamental geometric codes underpinning the universe itself.
Buckminster Fuller understood that true progress required holistic solutions that transcended individual disciplines. His concept of "Spaceship Earth" envisioned the planet as a single, interconnected entity, highlighting the need for cooperation and sustainability.
Fuller's mission transcended worldly success - he sought to rapidly create a sustainable world benefiting 100% of humanity through spontaneous cooperation without disadvantaging anyone. An unconventional genius centuries ahead of his time, Fuller's legacy continues to inspire.
Words cannot encapsulate the transcendent experience of being inside Fuller's dome. It evokes a profound sense of boundless creativity, where ideas flow uninhibited, and the mind is consumed by profound thoughts. The unique dome design allows natural light to illuminate the interior, cultivating a warm and inviting atmosphere reminiscent of being cocooned within a giant seashell imbued with an aura of ingenuity.
This geodesic dome house served as the residence of Buckminster Fuller and his wife Anne Hewlett Fuller from 1960 to 1971. It was the only dome he called home and where he was awarded 9 patents, published 11 books, and designed iconic works like the Montreal Biosphere during his most prolific years. Now a historic landmark, it preserves his radical humanitarian legacy for generations to come.
The home has been rightfully added to the National Register of Historic Places.
Join us as we learn from the dome's former caretakers about Fuller's paradigm-shifting ideas and tireless efforts to create an enduring planet that uplifts all beings without compromise. An immersive experience inside the physical manifestation of a mind that transcended conventional dimensions.

Explore the full behind-the-scenes story at: https://juandavidcampolargo.substack.com/p/juan-davids-newsletter-january-29th

The Fuller Dome Home: https://fullerdomehome.com/

Buckminster Fuller Institute Website: https://www.bfi.org

Bill Perk: https://www.bfi.org/2022/12/19/the-passing-of-bill-perk/

Bertrand Goldberg (Architect of Marina City, Chicago): http://bertrandgoldberg.org/