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Artwork for TalkRL: The Reinforcement Learning Podcast

TalkRL: The Reinforcement Learning Podcast

Robin Ranjit Singh Chauhan
Reinforcement Learning
Intrinsic Rewards
Artificial Intelligence
Multi-Agent Systems
Decision Making
Self-Driving Cars
Language Models
Exploration Strategies
Large Language Models
Human-Compatible AI
Cognitive Bias
Average Reward
Nethack
Deep Learning
Deep Reinforcement Learning
Benchmarking In AI
Ice Hockey
Autonomous Systems
Reward Centering
Information Theory

TalkRL podcast is All Reinforcement Learning, All the Time. In-depth interviews with brilliant people at the forefront of RL research and practice. Guests from places like MILA, OpenAI, MIT, DeepMind, Berkeley, Amii, Oxford, Google Research, Brown, Waymo, Caltech, and Vector Institute. Hosted by Robin Ranjit Singh Chauhan.

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes73Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Technology

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Artwork for TalkRL: The Reinforcement Learning Podcast

Latest Episodes

David Abel is a Senior Research Scientist at DeepMind on the Agency team, and an Honorary Fellow at the University of Edinburgh. His research blends computer science and philosophy, exploring foundational questions about reinforcement learning, defin... more

Recorded at Reinforcement Learning Conference 2025 at University of Alberta, Edmonton Alberta Canada.

Featured References

Lecture on the Oak Architecture, Rich Sutton

Alberta Plan, Rich Sutton with Mike Bowling and Patrick Pilarski

Additional Ref... more

We caught up with the RLC Outstanding Paper award winners for your listening pleasure.

Recorded on location at Reinforcement Learning Conference 2025, at University of Alberta, in Edmonton Alberta Canada in August 2025.

Featured References

Empir... more

We caught up with the RLC Outstanding Paper award winners for your listening pleasure. 

Recorded on location at Reinforcement Learning Conference 2025, at University of Alberta, in Edmonton Alberta Canada in August 2025.

Featured References 

Sci... more

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Recent Guests

David Abel
Senior Research Scientist at DeepMind and honorary fellow at the University of Edinburgh
DeepMind
Episode: David Abel on the Science of Agency @ RLDM 2025
Thomas Akam
Professor and neuroscientist at the Oxford University Department of Experimental Psychology, leading the Cognitive Circuits Research Group.
University of Oxford
Episode: Thomas Akam on Model-based RL in the Brain
Stefano Albrecht
Director of AI at Startup Deepflow, previously Associate Professor at the University of Edinburgh and Program Chair of RLDM Conference
Deepflow
Episode: Stefano Albrecht on Multi-Agent RL @ RLDM 2025
Satinder Singh
Professor and one of the founders of RLDM Conference
Episode: Satinder Singh: The Origin Story of RLDM @ RLDM 2025
Abhishek Naik
Postdoc fellow at the National Research Council of Canada, recently completed a PhD in reinforcement learning
National Research Council of Canada
Episode: Abhishek Naik on Continuing RL & Average Reward
Professor Finale Doshi-Velez
Professor focusing on reinforcement learning in healthcare
Episode: Finale Doshi-Velez on RL for Healthcare @ RCL 2024
Dr. Vincent Moens
An applied machine learning research scientist at Meta and author of TorchRL and TensorDict in PyTorch.
Meta
Episode: Vincent Moens on TorchRL
Arash Ahmadian
Researcher at Cohere and Vector Institute focused on reinforcement learning from human feedback and preference training
Cohere
Episode: Arash Ahmadian on Rethinking RLHF
Glen Berseth
Assistant Professor at the University of Montreal and co-director of the Robotics and Embodied AI Lab
University of Montreal, Mila Quebec AI Institute
Episode: Glen Berseth on RL Conference

Host

Robin Ranjit Singh Chauhan
Host of in-depth interviews exploring asynchronous reinforcement learning research with leading figures in the field.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 133 ratings
  • Fantastic - more than 5-stars!

    I love this! Great questions and amazing guests. I can’t wait till the next one.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Equalsmc2
    Canada3 years ago
  • Exposes a wide array of topics

    I am a first-year PhD student and I love this podcast. It helps me to be exposed to so many idea and find fellow RL researchers. Thank you Robin for putting this together.

    If you are looking for a podcast to help you advance in the field and become a better RL researcher than this is the podcast for you!5

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Alcool91
    United States4 years ago
  • Unexpected gem to learn deeply about RL

    I had the pleasure of finding this podcast as a listener and then being on it within a month or two. Robin does a great job and is here to help improve the experience for the community.

    Will help listeners rapidly get up to date with the happenings in reinforcement learning.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    natolambert
    United States5 years ago
  • Well Researched and Excellent Quality

    Great work Robin!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Vasundra Srinivasan
    Canada5 years ago
  • Amazing interviews

    Love this podcast. Always come away from each episode learning a lot. Thanks for all the great work.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Chokosabe
    United Kingdom5 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Many express appreciation for the host's commitment to shedding light on various aspects of reinforcement learning, making it a valuable resource for both novices and experts.
Reviews often mention the superb quality of the interviews and the insightful nature of the guests featured on the show.
Listeners praise the podcast for its technical depth and quality of guests, highlighting the blend of complex topics with accessible discussions.
Listeners note the emphasis on practical applications and theory, allowing them to stay current with the evolving landscape of RL research.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#160
Hong Kong/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#213
India/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#243
South Korea/Technology

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

David Abel on the Science of Agency @ RLDM 2025
Q: Do you think definitions are too deep in the weeds?
I do think definitions are extremely important in the clarity that they can bring, and the opportunity to frame a field.
David Abel on the Science of Agency @ RLDM 2025
Q: How do you like to describe your area of focus?
I tend to think of my area of focus as something like the science of agency, which naturally draws on topics like learning and computation and intelligence and, of course, reinforcement learning.
Satinder Singh: The Origin Story of RLDM @ RLDM 2025
Q: Can you say a bit more about how RLDM has evolved over the years?
RLDM has maintained its focus as a meeting rather than a conference, fostering multidisciplinary discussions, even as the need for a reinforcement learning conference has emerged.
Satinder Singh: The Origin Story of RLDM @ RLDM 2025
Q: Can you tell us the origin story of RLDM?
The idea for RLDM emerged from a conversation in a taxi after a retirement event, where researchers identified the need for a meeting to bridge multiple disciplines like neuroscience and machine learning.
NeurIPS 2024 - Posters and Hallways 2
Q: Can you tell us more about the two levels of value functions that you have here?
Yes, we validated the best design choices for using RL in this device control setting with two levels of value functions.

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Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast

What is This Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Focused entirely on reinforcement learning, this podcast features in-depth conversations with leading researchers and practitioners in the field. Episodes span a variety of subjects including advancements in AI, applications of RL in real-world scenarios, and theoretical discussions aimed at improving RL methodologies. Noteworthy guests come from prestigious institutions such as MIT, OpenAI, and DeepMind, contributing to a rich array of perspectives on the current state and future of reinforcement learning. The podcast stands out for its technical depth and commitment to exploring the nuances of RL, making it an essential listen for academics, practitioners, and enthusiasts alike.

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this podcast launched 6 years ago and published 73 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on this podcast?

Recent guests on this podcast include:

1. David Abel
2. Thomas Akam
3. Stefano Albrecht
4. Satinder Singh
5. Abhishek Naik
6. Professor Finale Doshi-Velez
7. Dr. Vincent Moens
8. Arash Ahmadian

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