Oct 24, 2026 · the week's best moments from hardware podcasts
Last week, 19 shows put out 23 hardware episodes, about 17 hours. You don't have 17 hours, so here are the 8 moments worth stopping for, and the 3 episodes worth every minute.
The moments
Picked by a model from all 23 episodes for the surprising, the costly and the candid, with the generic advice left out. Quoted word for word; each opens at the moment it is said.
Counterintuitive
Why most shop owners stay stuck in the weeds, even when they know they shouldn't.
“if you're spending time doing order entry, which might be a $25 an hour task versus you can be whining and dining, you know, a big, huge potential customer that could turn into a $1000000 contract. You'd rather spend the 4 hours to go have that meeting with them in that dinner. And win a $10000 contract and spend your 4 hours doing $100 worth of order entry work.”
Confession
The host admits his own past mistake of ignoring early feedback, leading to wasted inventory, and explains why professional formulators are the only ones who will tell you the truth.
“people will lie to you about your product. If you know them and you ask them, do you like this? They will say, yes … Your friends are probably going to do the same thing because they care about you. But you know who won't do that is a food scientist. They will give you that real opinion straight up … I wish I could have heard that more when I was running a brand and just fixed a lot of the stuff that was fixable early on, instead of just building it up, having a lot of inventory that I wished wasn't the way that it was.”Hear the episode →
Telling detail
Here’s the story of how the original iMac’s translucent colors were finally approved by Steve Jobs and Jony Ive.
“All of these different samples were shipped to a molder in South Korea who molded the parts overnight turnaround, shipped them air freighted back to Cupertino, they assembled them into the what we know as the iMac, they put them in a certain room which had afternoon sunlight, and at 3 p.m., Steve and Johnny walked into the room, these were all by the window, and the determinant, I I I I swear this is this is the story that uh the Apple people told me. The determinant was Steve saying, That looks like something I want to lick.”
Telling detail
How much smaller is a neuromorphic memory cell compared to standard SRAM? The answer is a 6-to-1 ratio in device count.
“an SRAM cell, for example, uses 6 transistors … whereas a member, there is a single element, a single device that holds actually a continuous memory state. So not only is the density per cell increased in a memory store, but also the number of devices you need in order to have an equivalent unit of memory is much less.”
Reuben Hamming-Green on EE Times Current
Integrating Interface Memristors in the Back End of LineTelling detail
If you're designing an AI chip, here is the raw density advantage of using memristors over standard SRAM.
“an SRAM cell, for example, uses 6 transistors so that's 6 devices for a single binary piece of memory, whereas a member, there is a single element, a single device that holds actually a continuous memory state. So not only is the density per cell increased in a memory store, but also the number of devices you need in order to have an equivalent unit of memory is much less.”
Reuben Hamming-Green on EE Times Current
Integrating Interface Memristors in the Back End of LineTelling detail
Jay Goldberg describes the sheer intensity of demand in the mature semiconductor equipment market.
“in China, there's a very healthy, secondhand, semi-gap tool market, and it's got, that has gotten so tight that people are stealing equipment. Right? You know, you're a broker, you sell used, used etch tools, you have a warehouse somewhere. somebody pulls up a truck. Oh my gosh. Presumably with 10 guys and a forklift and steals equipment. Like, that's how bad, how much demand there's this…”Hear it at 17:13 →
Telling detail
A plant manager shares the specific yield improvement and scale of operations achieved by a new torque control program.
“we saw a 40% increase in 1st pass yield. For context, we do 150000000 torque drill downs per year. So to get that was not only a huge benefit from a labor efficiency perspective, but quality.”
Counterintuitive
David explains the specific systems he and his co-founder use to manage their relationship and prevent conflict from derailing the company.
“when you have a forum and a space to talk about stuff like that … it sets up norms in terms of what is considered safe areas to go into. … even during the week, when we're not proactively talking about it, just knowing that this opportunity exists allows more fluid work during the week. And I would say, like both these tools effectively, what they are is their resentment prevention devices.”
By job
The same episodes, sorted by who will get the most from them. Pick your job above to see only yours.
Start with: Jay Goldberg describes the sheer intensity of demand in the mature semiconductor equipment market.
Start with: Why most shop owners stay stuck in the weeds, even when they know they shouldn't.
Topics
Each episode counted once, under what it is mostly about.
Names
Named in at least two episodes.
3 episodes
Second for second, the best of the week: the most that lands, in the least time.
Paul Van Metre, co-founder of ProShop ERP and author of 'Precision Manufacturing, Precision Business', outlines six stages of manufacturing growth, from Operator to Architect. He explains how shop owners must transition from direct execution to strategic leadership, using his own experience growing an aerospace machine shop to illustrate the 'growing pains' of each phase. Van Metre emphasizes that reaching the 'Architect' stage requires fixing root causes rather than symptoms and fostering a culture of empathy and curiosity. The discussion covers the specific responsibilities and mindset shifts required at each of the six levels of business maturity.
Megan Castellon of Syren Spreads and Andrew Kuzera of Ono, alongside food scientist Andrew Firestone of Firestone Consulting Group, discuss Startup CPG’s Founders & Formulators event. The guests detail how the speed-dating format helped Syren Spreads identify oxidation risks in their Skinglow spread and prompted a packaging shift to foil sachets, while Ono’s Kuzera used the event to learn the technical vocabulary for fixing astringency in his protein soda. Firestone explains how the event allows independent formulators to generate leads and broker relationships with co-manufacturers and ingredient suppliers like PureCaf and FlavorSum.
John Skabardonis, founder of Optimist Consulting and former material scientist at Covestro, details the development of the translucent polycarbonate for Apple's original iMac, explaining how dyes and pigments were selected to achieve specific visual effects under UV light. He discusses the challenges of circular design, contrasting mechanical and chemical recycling, and highlights innovations like Acoustic AI for sorting black plastics. The conversation explores smart surfaces and Shy Tech, featuring examples from BMW and TactoTech's in-mold structural electronics, emphasizing the importance of early material selection in industrial design.
Tamalika Banerjee and Ruben Hamming-Green, co-founders of IMChip, a spin-out from the University of Groningen, explain how their interface memristors offer greater reliability and scalability than filamentary devices by using lower voltages and preserving crystallinity during transfer. They describe a novel manufacturing process where memristors are grown at high temperatures on lattice-matched substrates and then transferred onto the back end of line (BEOL) of commercial CMOS chips, enabling integration with legacy nodes. The company aims to launch an edge-AI prototype chip within two years, targeting pilot customers to test basic AI inference before broader industry adoption. Giulia D’Angelo and Ralph Etienne-Cummings join the discussion to contextualize the technology against memcapacitors and address the challenges of neuromorphic integration.
Tamalika Banerjee and Ruben Hamming-Green, co-founders of IMChip, a spin-out from the University of Groningen, explain how their interface memristors offer greater reliability and scalability than filamentary devices by using lower voltages and preserving crystallinity during transfer. They detail a novel manufacturing process that grows these devices at high temperatures on lattice-matched substrates and then transfers them onto the back end of line (BEOL) of commercial CMOS chips, avoiding thermal budget constraints. The company aims to launch an edge-AI prototype chip within two years, targeting legacy nodes like XFab, while Giulia D’Angelo and Ralph Etienne-Cummings discuss the broader implications for neuromorphic computing and memcapacitors.
Hackaday editors Elliot Williams and Al Williams discuss the logistical challenges of importing Supercon badges, including German customs bureaucracy, and review several DIY projects. They highlight Joshua Bird's single-propeller drone, which uses motor speed variation for cyclic control, and Dr. Semiconductor's home-built solar cells using a microwave. The episode also covers Ryan Machine's stereo vision Linux board, an open-source micromanipulator, a 3D-view microscope attachment, and Hannah Robertson's NFC bird call cards, before concluding with a nostalgic look at the Altair 8800 catalog.
Jan Petrš, co-founder of Déploya Robotics and a roboticist at EPFL, discusses novel robotic systems for the construction industry, specifically focusing on automated façade installation. He explains how his company is developing self-deploying, origami-inspired scaffolding that supports mobile robots equipped with specialized end-effectors for drilling and panel placement. Petrš also reflects on his academic background in tensegrity robotics and reconfigurable structures, highlighting the shift from theoretical concepts like shareable actuators to practical, scalable hardware solutions for automating labor-intensive construction tasks.
AI ethicist Rebecca Bultsma, who holds a master's degree in Data and Artificial Intelligence Ethics from the University of Edinburgh, joins the hosts to discuss the nuances of trust, verification, and ethical AI adoption in business and manufacturing. She argues that AI is a neutral tool like money or a hammer that amplifies human intent, and advises using it as a 'thought partner' or devil's advocate rather than a ghostwriter to maintain authenticity and critical thinking. The conversation covers the risks of automation bias, the importance of verifying AI-generated research, and the ethical implications of deepfakes and AI in decision-making.
Eron Flory, a former Medtronic engineer and founder of Eron Engineering, discusses how his background in motorcycle racing and hands-on automotive repair shaped his approach to mechanical design and assembly. He explains how joining a Toastmasters group called 'Toastronic' at Medtronic helped him overcome public speaking fears, enabling him to present confidently to executives and lead major events. Flory details his extensive volunteer work coaching FIRST Robotics teams, highlighting the complex engineering, collaboration, and rapid prototyping required to build competitive high school robots.
Jimmy Diresta, Bob Clagett, and David Picciuto discuss their recent activities, including Jimmy's trip to Helsinki to see an Alia Ali art show and the cultural prevalence of Moomins, and David's development of a custom screw and nut organizer designed to improve upon the Gridfinity system. The hosts debate the merits of using open-source modular systems versus custom-designed solutions for workshop organization, with Bob explaining his preference for bespoke designs that fit specific spaces. They also reflect on the nature of failure and learning in the maker community, citing Bob's recent resin casting mishap and Jimmy's experience with a laser etching video.
Kai Lim and David Yu, co-founders of Reprise Health, discuss scaling their modern Eastern herbal wellness gummy brand from a garage startup to major retail channels including Whole Foods Market and Walmart. They detail their product development process, which involves co-formulating with a fifth-generation herbal medicine company in Tainan, Taiwan, and implementing rigorous triple-batch lab testing to ensure quality and transparency. The founders explain their strategic decision to launch in Whole Foods to prove quality before expanding to Walmart’s mass market with travel-sized packs, achieving top-three rankings in key categories within months. They also share their unique co-founder management system, including a comprehensive founders agreement and weekly retrospectives, to maintain alignment and prevent resentment during rapid growth.
Olya Irzak, founder and CEO of Frost Methane Labs, explains how behind-the-meter natural gas generation for data centers creates massive methane emissions through upstream leaks, facility leaks, and engine slip. She details why running reciprocating engines at partial loads significantly increases methane slip and argues that low-cost mitigation strategies like certified low-leak gas procurement and catalyst additions can cut these emissions without delaying projects. Irzak highlights that current hyperscaler emissions reporting often undercounts these impacts by relying on averages rather than actual leak data.
Seth Berkowitz, founder and CEO of Insomnia Cookies, advises three callers on scaling physical product businesses. He discusses Insomnia's strategy of owning and operating stores to maintain quality and control innovation, aiming for 1,800 locations without franchising. He advises Kahindo's Kohindo Matene to focus on her best-selling special occasion wear and smaller boutiques rather than broad digital ads, and suggests Sauna Societé's Tara Gilman leverage in-person education and B2B spa partnerships to overcome the 'education gap' for sauna hats. Finally, he counsels Desden's Carol Deshaun to target the end-user student for cultural relevance while managing 90 university licenses.
Chris Gammell, now Developer Relations Lead at Hubble Network, explains the company's Bluetooth-based terrestrial and satellite IoT connectivity, which leverages partner apps like Life 360 for relaying data and commercial chips from Espressif, Nordic, and Silicon Labs. Dave Jones discusses the fragility of appliance repair supply chains, specifically his struggle to find a spare door interlock for his Miele washing machine, and details sophisticated hardware supply chain attacks targeting crypto wallets like Ledger. The hosts also cover the end-of-life announcement for the Z80 microprocessor, the physics of sunlight erasing low-power LCD pixels, and the rise of AI-driven EDA tools controlling Altium and KiCad.
David Goldsmith, Executive Director and Founder of the Project Moon Hut Foundation, explains his vision for establishing a permanent human presence on the Moon through a phased infrastructure approach called 'Box of the Roof and a Door.' He argues that space agencies like NASA have focused too heavily on science rather than construction, and that the Project Moon Hut Foundation is using the Moon as a 'forcing function' to drive Earth-based innovations in telerobotic mining, materials science, and agriculture. Goldsmith details how solving extreme lunar challenges creates practical solutions for Earth, such as reopening abandoned mines with semi-autonomous equipment and developing new radiation-shielding materials.
Rao Murukurthy, founder of Flip to Fill, explains his transition from a career in mold making and custom blow molding (including work for GNC and Denver Custom Packaging) to creating a reusable, nested scoop that sits between the jar and cap. He details how the product solves hygiene issues by preventing hand contamination, automates insertion on production lines through its nested design, and meets Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) requirements by being large enough to avoid falling through recycling screens. The device is made from post-consumer recycled polypropylene, features modular molds for different neck sizes (89mm, 110mm, 120mm), and includes a swappable logo insert to help brands reduce COGS while maintaining user experience.
John Skabardonis, founder of Optimist Consulting and former material scientist at Covestro, details the development of the translucent polycarbonate for Apple's original iMac, explaining how dyes and pigments were selected to achieve specific visual effects under UV light. He discusses the challenges of circular design, contrasting mechanical and chemical recycling, and highlights innovations like Acoustic AI for sorting black plastics. The conversation explores smart surfaces and Shy Tech, featuring examples from BMW and TactoTech's in-mold structural electronics, emphasizing the importance of early material selection in industrial design.
Paul Van Metre, co-founder of ProShop ERP and author of 'Precision Manufacturing, Precision Business', outlines six stages of manufacturing growth, from Operator to Architect. He explains how shop owners must transition from direct execution to strategic leadership, using his own experience growing an aerospace machine shop to illustrate the 'growing pains' of each phase. Van Metre emphasizes that reaching the 'Architect' stage requires fixing root causes rather than symptoms and fostering a culture of empathy and curiosity. The discussion covers the specific responsibilities and mindset shifts required at each of the six levels of business maturity.
Chris Luecke moderates a live panel at UWM's Connected Systems Institute featuring Joe Hamann, Michael Cvelbar, Phil Bush of Rockwell Automation, and Ryan Schneeberger of Revere Electric. They discuss the 'factory of the future,' emphasizing that manufacturers must treat digitization as mission-critical and maintain backup plans for supply chain disruptions. The panel highlights Rockwell's Academy of Advanced Manufacturing for training veterans and CSI's hackathons to bridge the gap between university graduates and industry needs. They conclude that flexible automation, like AMRs, offers quick ROI, but manufacturers remain cautious with AI until clear business value is demonstrated.
Megan Castellon of Syren Spreads and Andrew Kuzera of Ono, alongside food scientist Andrew Firestone of Firestone Consulting Group, discuss Startup CPG’s Founders & Formulators event. The guests detail how the speed-dating format helped Syren Spreads identify oxidation risks in their Skinglow spread and prompted a packaging shift to foil sachets, while Ono’s Kuzera used the event to learn the technical vocabulary for fixing astringency in his protein soda. Firestone explains how the event allows independent formulators to generate leads and broker relationships with co-manufacturers and ingredient suppliers like PureCaf and FlavorSum.
Ted Carlin, Senior Director of Marketing and Applications at Infineon Technologies, explains how 60 GHz pure CMOS radar is replacing cameras in applications like smart homes and laptops. He details the transition from BiCMOS to pure CMOS, which enables higher transmit efficiency, longer range, and on-chip processing for 'wake on motion' functionality. The discussion covers Antenna-in-Package (AIP) technology, which integrates antennas directly into the chip to save PCB space and power, allowing for sealed industrial designs.
Ben Bajarin and Jay Goldberg recap the semiconductor industry's structural shift, highlighting ASML, TSMC, and Applied Materials' aggressive Capex and innovation in wafer equipment and advanced packaging. They analyze the Open Compute Project (OCP) Summit, focusing on the physical realities of data center infrastructure, including Delta Electronics' liquid cooling manifolds, the 800V DC power transition, and the complex trade-offs between co-packaged optics (CPO) and copper interconnects. The hosts discuss how these hardware constraints are forcing data center operators to make difficult architectural decisions regarding GPU density, rack topology, and the sequencing of technology adoption.
Subhi Saadeh, a Quality Professional and host of Let's Combinate, recounts a career lesson from his time as a quality lead at a large pharma company managing a sterile, vial-based drug-device combination product program. He explains how he shifted from seeking personal visibility to focusing on his team's technical needs, specifically regarding sterility and bioburden, which earned their respect and influence. Saadeh emphasizes the importance of being coachable, asking questions, and adopting a 'their cookie, your crumb' mindset to build credibility and trust with technical experts.
Loren Castle, founder of Sweet Loren’s, explains how she transformed a small regional cookie dough business into a national brand sold in over 30,000 stores by listening to customer feedback and pivoting to an entirely allergen-free product line. She details the difficult recipe development process, involving extensive testing of potato and tapioca starches to replace eggs and dairy without compromising taste, and her strategic decision to discontinue her original product line to focus on this high-demand niche. Castle also discusses her early struggles with manufacturing, including being forced out of a co-packer, and her deliberate choice to grow slowly to achieve profitability before scaling nationally into major retailers like Kroger and Publix.
Oxide Computer Company co-founders Steve Tuck and Bryan Cantrill, along with CFO Scott Orn, discuss raising a $445M Series D to fund manufacturing capacity and supply chain commitments for their rack-scale servers. The episode details the strategic inclusion of AMD and Atrides as investors, the company's achievement of profitability, and the specific tax and debt structures used to manage cash flow. They also address community feedback regarding their extensive hiring process and clarify the economic model behind their hardware offerings.
Zoë Sakoutis, Co-Founder and CEO of Bittman’s and founder of the now-acquired Blueprint, details her journey from bootstrapping a cold-pressed juice brand with a $5,000 loan to selling it to Hain Celestial, and her current efforts raising capital for Bittman’s whole grain sourdough bread. She explains how discovering High Pressure Processing (HPP) provided the necessary 'kill step' to make raw juice safe for retail shelves, unlocking national distribution and attracting strategic acquirers. Sakoutis discusses the complexities of the acquisition diligence process, particularly the burden of four production facilities, 120 employees, and 10-year leases, and offers advice on maintaining a clear business thesis while navigating investor feedback and team-building decisions.
Never miss one
The few moments worth your time, quoted word for word and linked to the second they’re said.
