# Grow A Superbrain

- Show: [The Amp Hour](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour)
- Published: 2019-04-22
- Length: 1h 11m
- Episode: 439
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-04-22-grow-a-superbrain
- Listen: https://theamphour.com/the-amp-hour-439-grow-a-superbrain/

## Summary

Chris Gammell of Contextual Electronics and Dave Jones of EEV Blog discuss the Feynman method for learning, the controversy surrounding Walter Lewin's demonstration of Kirchhoff's current law, and the practical challenges of high-speed PCB design for the BeagleBone Black. They also cover the economic realities of grid-scale battery storage, citing the Tesla Megapack in South Australia, and touch on industry trends like PCB manufacturer astroturfing and the KiCad community.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-04-22-grow-a-superbrain#t=0) Introduction and KiCon Update
- [9:09](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-04-22-grow-a-superbrain#t=549) Learning Methods and the Feynman Technique
- [15:37](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-04-22-grow-a-superbrain#t=937) Kirchhoff's Law and Physics Debates
- [24:20](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-04-22-grow-a-superbrain#t=1460) Nobel Laureate Dr. Barry Marshall Visit
- [31:24](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-04-22-grow-a-superbrain#t=1884) BeagleBone Black PCB Signal Integrity Analysis
- [46:39](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-04-22-grow-a-superbrain#t=2799) PCB Manufacturing Costs and Astroturfing
- [1:00:18](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-04-22-grow-a-superbrain#t=3618) Grid-Scale Battery Storage and Energy Trends
- [1:07:34](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-04-22-grow-a-superbrain#t=4054) KiCad Banana and Closing

## Topics

- [PCB design & layout](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pcb-design)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)
- [Energy & climate tech](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/energy-and-climate-tech)
- [Marketing & brand](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/marketing-and-brand)
- [EDA & CAD tools](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/eda-and-cad-tools)

## Most relevant to

makers and hobbyists

## Mentioned

- KiCad (tool)
- Cadence Allegro (tool)
- Altium (tool)
- Mentor Graphics (company)
- BeagleBone Black (product)
- Tesla (company)
- KiCon (other)
- EEV Blog (other)
- Contextual Electronics (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Ep047: Prusa Controversy, Bottle Organ Breakdown, PCBs Bending Backwards, and Listen to Your LED](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2019-12-20-ep047-prusa-controversy-bottle-organ-breakdown-pcbs-bending-backwards-and-listen) (Hackaday Podcast)
- [Ep 313: Capacitor Plague, Wireless Power, and Tiny Everything](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2025-03-21-ep-313-capacitor-plague-wireless-power-and-tiny-everything-cb8186ab) (Hackaday Podcast)
- [High Power PCB Design: Pushing the Limits with Caleb Buck](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2025-08-19-high-power-pcb-design-pushing-the-limits-with-caleb-buck) (OnTrack)
- [Ep 313: Capacitor Plague, Wireless Power, and Tiny Everything](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2025-03-21-ep-313-capacitor-plague-wireless-power-and-tiny-everything) (Hackaday Podcast)
- [Ep 262: Wheelchair Hacking, Big Little Science at Home, Arya Talks PCBs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2024-03-15-ep-262-wheelchair-hacking-big-little-science-at-home-arya-talks-pcbs) (Hackaday Podcast)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-04-22-grow-a-superbrain. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to The Amp Hour.