UnNatural Selection

The War on Illness: Inside Sanofi’s Arsenal of Innovation Recorded LIVE at the World Medical Innovation Forum and produced in partnership with MassGeneral Brigham , this episode of unNatural Selection features Nic in conversation with Michael Quigley , Chief Scientific Officer and Global Head of Research at Sanofi . Together, they explore Sanofi’s competitive edge in a rapidly changing pharmaceuti...

The Roots of Democracy Branch Toward Innovation Governor Maura Healey joins unNatural Selection to discuss how Massachusetts is navigating federal headwinds to remain a global leader in innovation. We explore the state’s partnerships with industry, academia, and communities, the challenges of competition with other states and nations, and the unique role Massachusetts plays as both a modern innova...

Light Into Life: Philips’ Journey of Reinvention Philips has been reinventing itself for more than 134 years — a rare feat in an age when most companies struggle just to survive. In this episode, we explore how a global giant stays competitive and vibrant through continuous innovation. Our conversation dives into the challenges and opportunities of innovating inside a large company with a long his...

Flock Survival: Innovation, Nutrition, and Building Resilient Communities Childhood obesity is one of today’s most pressing health challenges, but the story is far more complex than “eat less, move more.” In this episode, Dr. Elsie Taveras discusses the latest research on childhood nutrition and obesity, the myths that have shaped what we eat, and how her team at the Kraft Center for Community Hea...

Rewriting the Blueprint: How CRISPR and AI Free Us from Inherited Destiny Trevor Martin , CEO of Mammoth Biosciences , joins us to discuss how biology, AI, and engineering are converging to create a biotechnology operating system — a platform of reusable components that can be rapidly deployed to tackle new conditions. We explore the groundbreaking story of baby K.J., the first newborn to receive...

Harnessing Nature’s Defense: Antibody Breakthroughs in the War on Illness The immune system is one of nature’s most powerful defense systems—and antibodies have become a cornerstone of modern medicine. In Episode 29, produced in partnership with Mass General Brigham for the upcoming World Medical Innovation Forum , Nic speaks with Dr. Richard Blumberg of Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Me...

Engineering Precision Care: Verily’s Strategy and Vision In this episode of unNatural Selection , produced in partnership with Mass General Brigham for the World Medical Innovation Forum, we sit down with Andrew Trister to explore the evolution of Verily , Alphabet’s precision health company. We discuss Verily’s journey from its early days as an innovation lab to its transformation into a platform...

Intelligence Eats Reality: One Neuron at a Time In this episode of unNatural Selection , we’re joined by Dr. Anders Sandberg — a researcher at the Institute of Futures Studies and one of the world’s most provocative thinkers at the intersection of science, philosophy, and the far future. His work spans neurotechnology, human enhancement, AI, ethics, forecasting, and even the search for extraterres...

Blockbuster Wasn’t Killed by Netflix — The Asteroid That Hit the Movie Giant In this episode, we sit down with James Keyes , former CEO of Blockbuster , to revisit one of the most iconic stories in business lore—the rise of Netflix and the fall of Blockbuster. But as Keyes explains, the real story is far more complex than the usual disruption narrative. We explore how Blockbuster was already prepa...

Emergent Patterns: When the Map Becomes the Terrain In this special 25th episode, host Nic Encina steps out of the interviewer’s seat to reflect on the origin, evolution, and future of unNatural Selection . What began as a curiosity about how innovation mirrors natural selection has grown into a living archive of how people and ideas adapt, survive, and thrive under pressure. Drawing insights from...

Divine Competition: Thriving as a World-Class Soprano Opera may sound like divine expression, but behind the curtain lies a fiercely competitive world where only the most adaptive survive. In this episode, Meredith Hansen — celebrated soprano and international performer — takes us inside the high-stakes universe of symphonic performance. We explore what it takes to thrive at the top in a field flo...

From Extinction to Immortality: George Church on Redefining Life George Church , one of the most influential figures in modern biology, joins us to explore the breathtaking frontiers of synthetic biology. From his foundational role in the Human Genome Project to his groundbreaking work on gene editing, de-extinction, and engineered immunity, Church has helped transform biology from a descriptive s...

Hunting Shadows: Cybersecurity and the Collapse of Trust In this episode of unNatural Selection, we dive into the high-stakes domain of cyber security with Christopher Ahlberg, CEO of Recorded Future and a pioneer in threat intelligence. From state-sponsored attacks to disinformation campaigns, Ahlberg unpacks the rapidly evolving landscape of digital threats and the technologies being deployed to...

Gene Editing Under Pressure: When Time Is the Enemy Dr. Patricia Musolino of Mass General Brigham is pioneering gene editing approaches to treat Multisystem Smooth Muscle Dysfunction Syndrome (MSMDS)—a rare but devastating condition that causes stroke, heart attacks, and severe disability in children. In this episode, we explore how cutting-edge science is rewriting the prognosis for some of the s...

The Brain Health Equation: Can We Prevent 40% of Dementia Cases? What if we could prevent up to 40% of dementia cases, 60% of strokes, and 35% of depression—before they even start? In this episode, Dr. Jonathan Rosand, a neurologist and co-founder of the McCance Center for Brain Health at Mass General Brigham, joins us to discuss the McCance Brain Care Score —a powerful new tool designed to measur...

Signals Over Noise: Cleaning Up Cancer Trial Data Clinical trial reporting is the bedrock of evidence-based oncology, yet it's riddled with inefficiencies, mismatched data, and underreported adverse events. In this episode, Dr. Danielle Bitterman of Mass General Brigham joins unNatural Selection to discuss how her team is using AI to clean up the clinical data pipeline—automating the extraction of...

From Imaging to Intelligence: The Next Leap in Medical Technology Bernd Montag has led Siemens Healthineers through a decade of extraordinary transformation—spanning digitalization, AI, the Varian acquisition, and a global pandemic. Now, with its “New Ambition” strategy in motion, the company is positioning itself not just as a medical technology provider, but as a foundational force in the future...

Engineering Biology: Robert Langer on Impact-Driven Innovation Robert Langer is not just a scientist — he is one of the greatest scientific minds in human history. As the most cited engineer of all time and one of the ten most cited scientists across all fields, his work has shaped the modern landscape of biotechnology and medicine. In this episode, Dr. Langer—one of only nine Institute Professors...

The Science of Imagination In this episode, we dive into the dynamic field of playology , where psychology , interactive design , and advanced technology come together to craft immersive experiences. From the magic of Disney World to the adventure-filled environments of Great Wolf Lodge , play is no longer just about entertainment—it’s a tool for learning, engagement, and emotional connection. Den...

Empowering Health Systems: Microsoft’s Approach to Healthcare Innovation In this episode of unNatural Selection , we sit down with Dr. David Rhew , Global Chief Medical Officer at Microsoft, to explore the cutting-edge innovations shaping the future of healthcare. From leading pandemic response efforts to guiding Microsoft’s transformative healthcare strategy, Dr. Rhew shares insights on how AI, c...

Sole Survivors: The Arms Race Beneath Your Feet The athletic footwear industry is a $100B global battlefield—where innovation isn't optional, it's survival. Trends shift fast, consumer expectations are sky-high, and brands race to outpace each other in performance, design, sustainability, and storytelling. In this episode of unNatural Selection , we explore what it takes to win in one of the most...

Rewriting the Rules for GI Disorders—One Cell at a Time What if you could regenerate the gut’s nervous system with a simple cell therapy? In this episode of unNatural Selection , Dr. Allan Goldstein—Surgeon-in-Chief at Mass General for Children and Chief of Pediatric Surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital—discusses his work on neurosphere-based treatments for Hirschsprung disease. This novel ap...

Genetic Arms Race: Winning with Data in the Fight Against Cancer In the high-stakes world of cancer diagnostics, precision is power. This week on UnNatural Selection , we explore the fast-moving frontier of precision oncology with Caris Life Sciences, a company redefining how cancer is diagnosed and treated. Through advanced molecular profiling and AI-driven insights, Caris is helping oncologists...

Training AI to See Like a Pathologist In this episode of unNatural Selection , produced in partnership with Mass General Brigham ahead of the World Medical Innovation Forum , we sit down with Dr. Andy Beck , CEO of PathAI , to explore how machine learning is transforming the world of pathology. From accelerating drug development to improving clinical diagnostics, AI is changing how we understand a...

When AI Listens In: Rethinking the Medical Encounter AI is entering the exam room—not to diagnose, but to listen. In this episode, we explore how ambient AI is transforming clinical documentation, freeing doctors from keyboards and returning their focus to patients. Shiv Rao, CEO of Abridge, joins us to unpack what it means when machines start listening in, and what that could mean for the future...