# An Interview with Ben Krasnow, 8 years on

- Show: [The Amp Hour](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour)
- Published: 2020-02-17
- Length: 1h 14m
- Episode: 480
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2020-02-17-an-interview-with-ben-krasnow-8-years-on
- Listen: https://theamphour.com/480-an-interview-with-ben-krasnow-8-years-on/

## Summary

Ben Krasnow, host of the Applied Science YouTube channel and a hardware engineer at Verily (Alphabet), discusses his career path from Valve to Google X and his approach to engineering. He details his work on an accommodating contact lens, the challenges of innovating in the distorted healthcare market, and his preference for 'just-in-time' learning over formal education. Krasnow also shares insights into his home lab setup, his transition to KiCad for PCB design, and specific experiments like replicating Vantablack and building an EDM machine.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2020-02-17-an-interview-with-ben-krasnow-8-years-on#t=0) Introduction and Career History
- [11:21](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2020-02-17-an-interview-with-ben-krasnow-8-years-on#t=681) Verily, Google X, and Healthcare Innovation
- [15:11](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2020-02-17-an-interview-with-ben-krasnow-8-years-on#t=911) The Accommodating Contact Lens and Micro-fab
- [21:31](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2020-02-17-an-interview-with-ben-krasnow-8-years-on#t=1291) Innovation Methodology and Problem Space
- [35:18](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2020-02-17-an-interview-with-ben-krasnow-8-years-on#t=2118) Learning Chemistry and Just-in-Time Education
- [42:33](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2020-02-17-an-interview-with-ben-krasnow-8-years-on#t=2553) PCB Design Tools: Altium, Eagle, and KiCad
- [44:39](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2020-02-17-an-interview-with-ben-krasnow-8-years-on#t=2679) Home Lab Gear: 3D Printing and Machining
- [49:50](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2020-02-17-an-interview-with-ben-krasnow-8-years-on#t=2990) Applied Science Experiments: EDM, Vantablack, and Cookies
- [58:38](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2020-02-17-an-interview-with-ben-krasnow-8-years-on#t=3518) Motivation, Fame, and Future Projects

## Topics

- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)
- [EDA & CAD tools](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/eda-and-cad-tools)
- [Prototyping & iteration](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/prototyping)
- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)
- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [PCB design & layout](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pcb-design)

## Most relevant to

large enterprises, makers and hobbyists

## Mentioned

- Valve (company)
- Google X (company)
- Verily (company)
- Applied Science (product)
- KiCad (tool)
- Altium (tool)
- Eagle (tool)
- SolidWorks (tool)
- Fusion 360 (tool)
- Formlabs (company)
- Proto Labs (company)
- Vantablack (material)
- Haas (company)
- Okuma (company)
- Screaming Circuits (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [119: Do Your Neighbors Have Any Idea?](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2015-09-24-119-do-your-neighbors-have-any-idea) (Embedded.fm)
- [184: Not Likely, Possible, or Safe](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2017-01-18-184-not-likely-possible-or-safe) (Embedded.fm)
- [CrunchLabs: Mark Rober](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2024-04-15-crunchlabs-mark-rober) (How I Built This)
- [Episode 243: PIVOT!](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2020-01-10-episode-243-pivot) (Making It)
- [81: Two of Those People Can't Be Ducks](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-12-17-81-two-of-those-people-cant-be-ducks) (Embedded.fm)

## Citing this page

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