Finding Genius Podcast

What is the most sustainable and economic way to farm? Eddy Badrina of Eden Green Technology may have the answer to this million-dollar question…  Eden Green Technology is a company that uses vertical farming technology to produce more food while simultaneously using less energy, space, and water. As the CEO of this innovation-driven company, Eddy is instrumental in bringing this technology to ret...

How do farm animals' gut health and eating habits impact sustainability? What are researchers doing to improve food safety and animal health? In this episode, we sit down with animal and dairy science expert Todd Riley Callaway to address these questions and others like them…  Todd is an Associate Professor in the Department of Animal and Dairy Science at the University of Georgia, where he resear...

Have you ever wondered what it takes to produce your favorite beer? Well, it turns out that it requires a fair amount of scientific research to create a decent brew. In this episode, we chat with John Sheppard about exactly what this looks like for both craft and major breweries alike…  John is a Professor in the Department of Food, Bioprocessing and Nutrition Sciences at NC State where he teaches...

In this episode, we sit down with Tom Paladino, a scientist, humanitarian, and pioneer in quantum health research. As a nationally recognized leader in sustainability, Tom is the founder and CEO of the award-winning green building consulting firm, Paladino and Company. Tom has worked with countless real estate owners, operators, and developers as they aim to develop business results that are backe...

Have you always wanted to start a backyard garden but never been sure how? Have you created a garden but failed to produce good crops? If so, you're not alone. One of the most challenging things for people who want to garden is the planning process: knowing when to seed, when to transplant, and when to harvest crops based on location and climate. The good news is that this is precisely what Paul a...

How could someone who's illiterate construct an amazing and powerful work of literature such as the Quran? And what does the answer have to do with religious belief, Western literature, and human history in general? Tune in for a fascinating discussion exploring these questions and more. You'll discover: What formulaic language is, and the tremendous role it's played in literature, including the c...

How many chemicals are floating around in natural bodies of water? Where do they travel, how do they change over time, and how much do we know about their environmental and human health impacts? Tune in to explore the answers to these questions and more important topics, including: Examples of the most common biologically active compounds entering the environment and how they impact wastewater tre...

About 90% of plants have partners that enrich their life – fungal partners, specifically, and nutritional enrichment that the plants use for growth, reproduction, and photosynthesis. How do these relationships form and develop, and what do they look like? Tune in to explore: How long fungal spores can survive in soil, waiting to germinate in the presence of the right plant How plants sense that a...

In this episode, we connect with Hannah Collins to discuss the ongoing issue of microplastic contamination. Hannah is a Ph. D. student in Oceanography at the University of Connecticut, Avery Point where she currently focuses her research on microplastics and their impact on marine bivalves (mollusks), and biological solutions to microplastic-related problems. Microplastics seem to find their way i...

Joshua Burda Ph. D. joins the podcast to discuss how cells in the brain regulate response to injury and disease. As an Assistant Professor in the Department of Neurology at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Joshua applies his knowledge as a biomedical neuroscientist to uncover new treatment paths for patients with neurological disabilities. Joshua is interested in the functional recovery of neurologica...

Andrew Latimer joins the podcast today to discuss his work as a professor in the Department of Plant Sciences at UC Davis. Andrew is here to address responses to fire and drought in California, and educate us on the intricacies of forest environments. Starting out as an environmental lawyer, Andrew moved forward in his professional life by pursuing forest development and conservation as an ecologi...

Dr. Oded Nir joins the podcast today to discuss his work in water treatment and resource recovery. As the lab director of the Nir Water Lab in Israel, Dr. Nir works to eliminate water pollution in order to mitigate damage to human health and the environment.  Impaired water quality can cause a vast array of problems, and Dr. Nir is intent on improving this issue in an effort to facilitate a sustai...

In this episode, we sit down with Sir Steven Cowley, a British theoretical physicist and global authority on astrophysical plasmas and nuclear fusion. Steven is the director of the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) as well as the United States Department of Energy (DOE). Presently, he focuses his research on plasmas and nuclear fusion in astrophysical plasmas. Steven began his fascination...

Cece Gerstenbacher joins the podcast today to discuss environmental stewardship. Cece is an Environmental Program Coordinator as part of the Merrimack Valley Planning Commission (MVPC). Here, she works on everything from coastal restoration to water quality monitoring – serving a foundational role in the protection and responsible use of Merrimack Valley's prime natural resources.  Cece is on a mi...

In this episode we are joined by John Williams, a real estate investor and mentor who also creates educational Youtube videos . John has a passion for surrounding himself with successful people, and throughout his career, he has provided countless individuals with valuable economic insight.  Jump into the conversation to discover: How John's social media presence has evolved over the years. Where...

Every experience, connection, meal, and countless other environmental factors can influence whether specific genes are turned on or off, affecting all kinds of physiological processes, including aging. Kara Fitzgerald provides eye-opening insights into this topic and so much more. Tune in to explore: Epigenetics – what it means and the latest developments in the field How the tumor microenvironmen...

Joining us in this episode to discuss microplastics and nanoplastics is Andrew Mayes. Andrew is an Associate Professor of Chemistry at the University of East Anglia where he analyzes and identifies microplastic contamination at a chemical level. Andrew has spent much of his career producing polymer micro and nanoparticles for various analytical applications. Using his skills in environmental analy...

Joining the podcast to address microplastic pollution is Aleksandra Tubić, Ph. D. Aleksandra is an Associate Professor and Chair of Chemical Technology and Environmental Protection at the University of Novi Sad Faculty of Sciences in Serbia. With a background in chemistry, Aleksandra has fostered a deep fascination with the issue of microplastic pollution. Examining how microplastics interact with...

Juan Carlos Díaz-Pérez joins the podcast today to discuss his research in vegetable production and physiology. Juan is a Professor in the Department of Horticulture at the University of Georgia where he investigates plasticulture/protected agriculture technologies, how preharvest factors impact postharvest quality, and sustainable/organic vegetable production. Juan is from Guadalajara, Mexico, whe...

Joining us in this episode to discuss climate science is Andrew Dessler. Andrew is the Director of the Texas Center for Climate Studies. He is also a Professor of Atmospheric Sciences and holder of the Reta A. Haynes Chair in Geoscience at Texas A&M University.  Andrew wants to know how climate change is going to affect humans in the future. In order to unpack this area of interest, he spends his...

Today we discuss the "new frontier" of health and wellness: gut science . With all that the gut does for our bodies as a whole, it's about time we take proper care of it. In this episode, we learn how to do just that with molecular and microbiology expert Sunny Jain.  Sunny is the CEO and Founder of Sun Genomics, a company that provides probiotics tailored to your gut. This distinct approach to gu...

Scott Wilson joins the podcast today to discuss all things gardening-related. Scott is a Master Gardener in the state of Colorado, where he educates people both in person and with his instructional Youtube videos. Since 2004, Scott has been refining his approach to gardening and sharing his knowledge with people near and far. From starting seeds to harvesting crops, Scott is deeply familiar with e...

In this episode, we analyze the environmental impact of food waste and how to reduce it with Dr. Simon Lockrey. Dr. Lockrey is a leading sustainability and design-based entrepreneur, board member, and academic. He has been based at RMIT since 2009, and recently became an interim national leader of the Reduce Program with FFW CRC – a series of reduction projects aimed at cutting Australian food was...

Faust Ruggiero joins the podcast today to discuss his work as a published research author, clinical trainer, and therapist. Faust has counseled people from all walks of life, and has helped countless individuals take control of their emotions and intellect with thoughtful and practical guidance. Faust recently wrote the book entitled, The Fix Yourself Handbook: Using the Process Way of Life to Tra...

Sustainable agriculture is a concept that takes an immense amount of attention and commitment. The disconnect between society and our food sources is staggering – and in this episode, we get familiar with food origins from the ground level…  Andy Smith joins the podcast today to discuss his work as the Farm Manager at Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU). Here, he informs students on sustainable...