This month, we explore how data science and AI are transforming the wine industry—from vineyard planting and grape harvesting to customer engagement. Can advanced technologies help winemakers enhance quality, promote sustainability, and better match wines to consumers—all while preserving the essential human touch? Might these innovations be applied to other products as well? Join us as we discuss these questions and more with industry leaders Kia Behnia, CEO and co-founder of Scout, and Katerina Axelsson, CEO and founder of Tastry. Pour yourself a glass and tune in as we uncork the intersection of data, AI, and the art of winemaking. Our Guests: Kia Behnia is CEO and co-founder of Scout, an AI-powered analytics platform built for precision viticulture, and proprietor of Kiatra Vineyards and Neotempo Wines. Katerina Axelsson is CEO and founder of Tastry, a sensory-sciences company that blends advanced analytical chemistry, machine learning, and AI to predict consumer preferences—especially in wine.
This month, we’re taking a closer look at what’s on your dinner plate. From brightly colored cereals to shelf-stable snacks, food dyes, preservatives, and ultra-processed foods are found everywhere. But are they safe? Are they necessary—or could they actually be harmful? In this episode, we speak with leading experts in food science and public health to separate fact from fear. What does the evidence really say about these controversial ingredients? Are recent legislative bans rooted in science, or are other factors at play? Join us as we unpack the science, the politics, and the public perception behind what we eat. Our guests: Lisa Lefferts is an environmental health consultant and former senior scientist at the Center in the Public Interest. She is the primary author of the successful petition to ban Red No. 30 and also served on the FDA's Food Advisory Committee when it considered synthetic food dyes in 2011. Marion Nestle is an American molecular biologist, nutritionist, and public health advocate. She is the Paulette Goddard Professor of Nutrition, Food Studies, and Public Health emerita at New York University.
Once the stuff of science fiction, deepfake technology has rapidly become one of the most powerful—and consequential—applications of generative AI, blurring the line between reality and illusion and reshaping how we trust what we see and hear online. This month we delve into this phenomenon with Professor Hany Farid, a pioneer in digital forensics, and Professor Siwei Lyu, whose lab develops state-of-the-art deepfake detection methods.Together, they’ll walk us through the data journey—from the vast raw data sets that fuel synthetic media to the pixel-level signatures that can unmask it. Whether you’re a computer scientist, policymaker, or simply curious about how synthetic content is transforming our information landscape, join us for an in-depth conversation about turning data into both convincing illusions and robust defenses—and learn how we can preserve trust and truth in our rapidly evolving digital world. Our guests: Hany Farid is a professor at the University of California, Berkeley, with a joint appointment in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences and the School of Information. He is also a member of the Berkeley Artificial Research Intelligence Lab, Berkeley Institute for Data Science, Center for Innovation in Vision and Optics, Development Engineering program, Vision Science program, and is a senior faculty advisor for the Center for Long-Term Cybersecurity. Siwei Lyu is a SUNY Distinguished Professor and a SUNY Empire Innovation Professor at the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, the director of the UB Media Forensic Lab, and founding co-director of the Center for Information Integrity at the University of Buffalo, State University of New York.
This month, we welcome back one of our most popular guests—MIT Professor Andrew Lo—for an insightful exploration into the complexities of tariffs. In this episode, we break down what tariffs are, how they work, and their far-reaching economic and political impacts. Our conversation delves into the challenges of predicting tariff outcomes, the need for better data-driven policies, and offers practical advice for individual investors navigating periods of economic uncertainty. Join us for a fascinating deep dive into the world of economic policy Our guest: Andrew W. Lo is the Charles E. and Susan T. Harris Professor of Finance at the MIT Sloan School of Management.
This month we explore sleep, which is at the center of some of the most exciting developments in data science and health research. Joining us is Dr. Rebecca Robbins, sleep expert and co-author of Sleep for Success!, whose work explores how we can unlock better sleep and healthier lives. From wearable tech and machine learning to behavioral changes, we explore the evolving landscape of sleep research: what the data says about our changing sleep habits, which modern sleep trends actually work (and which don’t), and how modern science intersects with an ever more tired population. Join us for an eye-opening conversation on the science of sleep. Our guest: Dr. Rebecca Robbins, Assistant Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and an associate scientist at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital.
This month, we're delving into the thrilling world of Formula 1 racing—a high-octane blend of speed and data analytics that drives innovation both on and off the track. Joining us is Rob Smedley, renowned F1 race engineer and strategist with extensive experience at Ferrari, Williams, and the Formula One Group. We'll discuss Rob's journey into this fascinating sport, how data shapes race strategies and driver development, and the biggest transformations AI has brought to Formula 1. Whether you're a motorsports fan, data scientist, or simply curious about cutting-edge technology, join us to explore how data fuels Formula 1's future. Our guest: Rob Smedley, CEO and Founder of Smedley Group, an advanced technology business whose mission is to make motorsport faster, fairer, cleaner, and cheaper.
This month we are exploring emerging technologies and how they are transforming the way we approach romantic connections. How are AI tools and algorithms changing the way people meet? Can an app actually help you land more dates? And what does all of this mean for the future of dating and long-term relationships? Join us as we talk to two experts who unpack these big questions and share insights on how AI is impacting our love lives. Our guests: Kathryn Coduto, Assistant Professor of Media Science in the Department of Mass Communication, Advertising, and Public Relations at Boston University. Sean Kim, Head of AI and Machine Learning at AI dating assistant app RIZZ.
Once thought of as a gadget of some futuristic fiction, WHOOP and other wearable devices are leading the charge in personal health from real-time data. This revolutionizes how we eat, sleep, train, and recover. This month, we delve into that process with WHOOP’s founder and CEO, Will Ahmed, who will guide us through the entire data journey—from the moment it’s captured on your wrist to the insightful metrics you see on your phone. Whether you’re a health enthusiast, an aspiring entrepreneur, or just curious about how technology is reshaping our understanding of the human body, join us for an in-depth conversation on turning data into lasting, positive change, allowing us to live happier and healthier lives. Our guest: Will Ahmed, American entrepreneur best known as the CEO of health wearables company WHOOP, which he founded in 2012.
Creativity is often believed to be a uniquely human trait, but what happens when artificial intelligence starts to blur the line between human imagination and machine innovation? For this month’s episode, we are joined by four extraordinary guests who are shaping the intersection of art, design, and technology. Together, we dive into how AI reshapes creative fields, from personalized design to algorithmic music. Can machines truly cocreate, or are they just mirroring us? And what does this mean for the future of artistic expression? Join us as we explore these thought-provoking questions on the Harvard Data Science Review Podcast. Our guests: CJ and Zack formed the music hacker duo DADABOTS when attending Berklee College of Music. From playing in metal, punk, and noise bands and studying composition and programming, they realized machine learning was an even more extreme way to make sound and dove completely into eliminating themselves from music. They cofounded Harmonai, the music research team within Stability AI focused on creating open-source generative AI audio tools, and created Stable Audio, which was listed in TIME Magazine's best inventions of 2023 Nini Hu, designer and art director with over 20 years of experience working with global fashion lifestyle brands and author of AI and Creativity for HDSR. Nini is also the founder of &HER, building customizable bras using AI, eco-friendly fibers, and automated production technology. &HER uses machine learning models to bring body shape and measurements directly to production. Portrait XO, independent researcher and award-winning multimodal artist who researches computational creativity, human-machine collaboration, and explores new formats and applications through innovative audio and visual projects.
In today's digital age, where information is more accessible than ever through online platforms, many people turn to search engines like Google for answers to their medical questions and concerns. The rapidly evolving landscape of women's health—shaped by advancements in medicine, artificial intelligence, and political shifts such as the overturning of Roe v. Wade—has given rise to a flood of misinformation, disinformation, and conflicting advice. In this month’s episode, we are joined by a reproductive health specialist who helps us navigate the facts about fertility and pregnancy. Our guest: Dr. Lora Shahine, MD, double board-certified OB-GYN and reproductive endocrinologist at Pacific Northwest Fertility, clinical associate professor at the University of Washington, and host of the fertility podcast Baby Or Bust.
The upcoming U.S. presidential race arrives at a time when many Americans are grappling with questions about poll accuracy and data reliability. This month, HDSR is joined by journalists Colby Hall and Leland Vittert for an in-depth look at how the media uses data to report and analyze elections and what past elections can teach us about 2024. We’ll discuss which data points are essential, how technology is reshaping polling and political reporting, what the biggest challenges are that the media faces when covering elections today compared to a decade ago, and which voter demographics could sway the 2024 election results in unexpected ways. Join us as we dive into these pressing questions and more on the Harvard Data Science Review Podcast. Our guests: Colby Hall, Peabody Award-winning television producer, founding editor of Mediate.com, and media contributor to NewsNation since March 2023 Leland Vittert, chief Washington anchor at NewsNation and host of On Balance with Leland Vittert
As September marks the start of the NFL regular season, this month's episode explores how data science and AI are used in professional football to make the sport more entertaining, competitive, and safe. How has the way data is used to enhance the game advanced? What is the most underutilized piece of data that could offer teams a significant advantage? How do teams balance human instinct with AI-driven analysis when making decisions in games? For aspiring sports analysts, what technical or soft skills and experiences are most important to develop? Listen to our fascinating discussion as we delve into the intersection of sports analytics and data science. Our guest: Michael Lopez, Senior Director of Football Data and Analytics at the National Football League (NFL).
In July 2024, we witnessed one of the most significant internet disruptions in history when CrowdStrike released a faulty update to its security servers. This update impacted approximately 8.5 million systems, triggering outages across various sectors, including airlines, banks, stock markets, and even government emergency services. Even once activity was restored, threat actors sought to take advantage of the situation through phishing schemes and other cyberattacks. Though caused by an internal error rather than malicious intent, incidents like CrowdStrike’s outage underscore the growing importance of reliable security measures on technologies that impact daily life. On this month’s podcast, we explore the ins and outs of cybersecurity, how cyberattacks occur, and what steps you can take to protect your data. Our guests: Milena Rodban, independent geopolitical risk consultant and former senior advisor at the National Risk Management Center at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). Arun Seelagan, Senior Data Scientist at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)
To celebrate HDSR’s 5th anniversary last month we hosted Vine to Mind, a symposium centered around wine and data science that featured leading experts from around the globe representing research and industry. The talks were so engaging that we decided to share some of the celebration with you at home. Today, we are joined by two of the esteemed symposium speakers, Laura Catena and Ahmed Tawakol, who help us explore the health benefits and potential drawbacks of wine. We also discuss how alcohol-related research is conducted and learn about the future of wine research. For all of this and more, stay tuned for this latest episode of the Harvard Data Science Review Podcast! Our guests: Laura Catena, Managing Director of Bodega Catena Zapata, and Founder of Catena Institute of Wine. Ahmed Tawakol, Director of Nuclear Cardiology and Co-Director of the Cardiovascular Imaging Research Center at Massachusetts General Hospital, and Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School.
After the 2020 United States presidential election, there were widespread claims that the election was unfair, insecure, and in some instances, outright stolen. This outcry put election officials under intense scrutiny, particularly those in Secretary of State offices across the country. As we approach another presidential election season, it's crucial to address the most significant election safety concerns for the 2024 presidential, Senate, and House races. This month we delve into these issues with Minnesota’s Secretary of State, Steve Simon. How does election reporting function? How will AI influence this election? Is your vote really being counted? This is a special edition of the podcast as Secretary Simon joined us for an HDSR Conversation with Leaders piece. Stay tuned for all of this and more on the Harvard Data Science Review Podcast. Our guest: Steve Simon, Minnesota’s 22nd Secretary of State
This month we take some time to talk in depth about what exactly generative AI is, what it can do, and what it can’t do. In this special episode, derived from a webinar titled "Future Shock: Grappling With the Generative AI Revolution," host Xiao-Li Meng collaborates with Harvard’s Graduate School of Arts and Sciences to tackle the topic of generative AI with the help of esteemed panelists and the three co-editors of HDSR’s Future Shock special issue, Francine Berman, Ralf Herbrich, and David Leslie. Stay tuned for all of this and more on the Harvard Data Science Review Podcast. Our guests: Francine Berman, Edward P. Hamilton Distinguished Professor in Computer Science at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), and Director of Public Interest Technology and the Stuart Rice Research Professor in the College of Information and Computer Sciences at University of Massachusetts Amherst. Ralf Herbrich, Managing Director of Hasso Plattner Institute and Professor of Artificial Intelligence and Sustainability at the Hasso Plattner Institute and University of Potsdam. David Leslie, Director of Ethics and Responsible Innovation Research at The Alan Turing Institute, and Professor of Ethics, Technology and Society at Queen Mary University of London.
Teaching the next generation of scholars has never been an easy task, but the recent boom of generative AI has introduced a new set of problems and opportunities for educators at all levels. This month we sit down with two experts and discuss the challenges and possibilities generative AI platforms pose for the education system. Are students becoming too reliant on technology? Will this reliance impact their critical thinking skills? How will generative AI platforms shape our students in the future? ChatGTP has raised fears of cheating on homework, but can its potential as an educational tool outweigh its risks? Stay tuned for all of this and more on the Harvard Data Science Review Podcast. Our guests: Elizabeth Shulman, Adjunct Lecturer at the School of Education and Social Policy at Northwestern University, and English teacher at Evanston Township High School James Zou, Associate Professor of biomedical data science and Member of Stanford AI Lab at Stanford University
As the U.S. approaches another presidential election, many of us are contemplating our beliefs, staying informed about election news, and at times, questioning the integrity of the voting polls. This month we delve into the upcoming House, Senate, and presidential elections with the help of two political polling experts. Where can we find reliable polls amidst an ocean of information? Has the rise of AI and other technologies affected the 2024 election? How are election outcomes determined? Which voter demographics might lead to surprising election results? Join us for an insightful discussion on these topics and more on the Harvard Data Science Review Podcast. Our guests: Kai Chen Yeo, pollster and partner at Echelon Insights, a next-generation opinion research, analytics, and intelligence firm. Scott Tranter, Head of Data Science at Decision Desk HQ
The financial industry has a rich history of leveraging data for predictive purposes. From hedge funds employing regression analysis to fine-tune portfolios to individuals utilizing summary statistics in pursuit of the next groundbreaking startup, data has been a cornerstone of investment strategies for years. On today’s episode we sit down with two experts to explore how the recent surge in artificial intelligence has changed the investment game. Our guests: Christina Qi, CEO of Databento, Inc. Victor Lo, Senior Vice President of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence at Fidelity Investments
After the positive reception to our first listener question episode featuring co-host Xiao-Li Meng last August, we decided to start the new year with an exclusive interview with one of our most esteemed guests yet: HDSR’s own Liberty Vittert! For this special episode, Xiao-Li is joined by guest co-host, Arianwyn Frank, a producer of this podcast, a data science undergrad at Washington University, and a former student of Liberty’s. Listen now to their fascinating conversation with Liberty as they discover how a woman of many talents found herself in the exciting world of data science. Our guest: Liberty Vittert, Professor of the Practice of Data Science, Olin Business School, Washington University in St. Louis; resident on-air statistician for NewsNation; and feature editor of Harvard Data Science Review
Erik
this was by far your best episode yet. I discovered this podcast because I was looking for an in depth conversation about data science. for most episodes, though, I feel like the show has often skipped over or only very lightly touched on the data and rarely if ever talks about the details about data collection and processing. this episode nailed it. I hope you maintain the concentration on the data and the science.