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The Moonshot Podcast

X, The Moonshot Factory
Artificial Intelligence
Machine Learning
Google
Neural Networks
Everyday Robots
Robotics
Food Security
Google Brain
Innovation
Deep Learning
Google Glass
Human-Robot Interaction
Choreography
Software Development
Food Waste
Google X
Design
Digital Divide
AI Ethics
Climate Change

The Moonshot Podcast chronicles the untold stories of innovation - both highs and lows - from inside Google’s Moonshot Factory. In Season 2, Captain of Moonshots Astro Teller sits down with a new crop of moonshot takers exploring the next frontiers in health, biology, computing and more. From energy kites and robotic pants, to sea fuel and digital immune systems, go behind the scenes with the inve... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes28Foundeda year ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ScienceTechnology

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Artwork for The Moonshot Podcast

Latest Episodes

This episode of The Moonshot Podcast explores two ambitious moonshots focused on bringing "visibility" to the world's most complex and opaque digital and physical systems.

First, Astro is joined by Mike Wiacek, Stephen Gillett, and Shapor Naghibzade... more

YouTube

This episode of The Moonshot Podcast explores how X is reimagining computer chip design to power the next generation of AI.

Computer engineer Tammo Spalink joins host Astro Teller to discuss Project Positron and their radical decision to build "pos... more

YouTube

This episode of The Moonshot Podcast explores two moonshots that investigated very different ways to use water: harvesting it from the air and transforming it into fuel.

Astro Teller first chats with Neil Treat and Claudia Truesdell from Project H2... more

YouTube

This episode of The Moonshot Podcast explores how X, The Moonshot Factory, is reimagining a better way to plan and make smarter, faster building decisions to address the global housing crisis.

Host Astro Teller is joined by architect Michelle Kaufm... more

YouTube

Key Facts

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Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Tammo Spalink
Expert on computer chips for AI and robotics
Google / X Moonshot Factory
Episode: Silicon Horizons
Raj Apte
Contributor to Bodger and in-house Moonshot hardware design
X / The Moonshot Factory / Google
Episode: Silicon Horizons
Neil Treat
Moonshot researcher associated with H2E
X (Moonshot project team)
Episode: Ocean Fuel, Desert Rain
Claudia Truesdell
Moonshot researcher associated with H2E
X (Moonshot project team)
Episode: Ocean Fuel, Desert Rain
Kathy Hannun
Co-founder involved in Project Foghorn
X (Moonshot project)
Episode: Ocean Fuel, Desert Rain
Michelle Kaufmann
Architect, former X advisor
Former X; Architect
Episode: Breaking New Ground
Adrian Walker
Leader of Anori; CTO
Anori
Episode: Breaking New Ground
Julia Ling
CTO/Co-lead at Anori
Anori
Episode: Breaking New Ground
Fort Felker
Engineer and test lead on Makani
Makani, X
Episode: Chasing the Wind, Storing the Sun

Host

Astro Teller
Captain of Moonshots; Host of The Moonshot Podcast

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 132 ratings
  • Fascinating!

    So well done, right from the first episode. This is a binge-worthy, go-to, favorite podcast.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Hawk0630
    United States6 months ago
  • Must listen

    Captivating. Finally I understand what X is all about.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Stillerblue
    United Statesa year ago
  • Great podcast

    Love this.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    54322!
    United Statesa year ago
  • Fascinating

    These stories have so many unexpected moments—surprising and beautiful. Great series.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    IowaGal36
    United Statesa year ago
  • Inside view of Google X… wow!

    Full disclosure, I once got to visit the Moonshot factory, but hearing the first person descriptions in the podcast is way. Astro seems so approachable and the X team makes work sound fun! Can’t wait for more episodes to drop.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    MarKat1990
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

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

Listener feedback consistently praises the host and guests for accessibility and practical insight into breakthrough tech.
Audience notes the host comes across as approachable and the discussions feel authentic and informative to both fans of science and industry professionals.
The show is described as engaging and inspiring, with particular appreciation for the behind-the-scenes look at moonshots and experimentation.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#155
United States/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#222
United Kingdom/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#208
Germany/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#36
India/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#53
Norway/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#104
Taiwan/Technology

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Silicon Horizons
Q: How does Bodger aim to automate chip design, and why is that important?
Bodger uses inverse design and a hardware compiler concept to automate exploration of millions of chip variants, dramatically lowering cost and time to identify high-performance, application-specific architectures.
Silicon Horizons
Q: Why is Moore's Law considered to be ending, and what does that imply for the future of compute?
The guests explain that transistor scaling is hitting physical limits, causing traditional silicon improvements to stall; this pushes the industry toward specialized hardware (TPUs, GPUs) and software innovations to maintain AI progress while reducing power use and cost.
Chasing the Wind, Storing the Sun
Q: What was Malta and how did it evolve into a company?
Malta started as a bold concept for time-shifting energy using a reversible heat engine—an alternative to bulky lithium storage—driven by Nobel laureate Bob Laughlin's ideas; after substantial feasibility studies and cost analysis, it was spun out into an independent company to pursue grid-scale storage solutions.
Chasing the Wind, Storing the Sun
Q: Why did the Makani project eventually close, and what were the major learnings?
Despite many innovations and firsts, detailed cost and systems engineering models showed that a disruptive cost advantage over conventional wind would not be realized; the team learned the importance of realistic techno-economic assessments and the need for rapid cost modeling alongside physics validation.
Chasing the Wind, Storing the Sun
Q: What was the vision for Makani and how would the system generate power?
Makani aimed to replace traditional wind turbines with a kite-based system where a tethered wing flies in looping patterns, driving onboard rotors that generate electricity fed back to the grid through the tether, a fundamentally different approach that promised large cost reductions if scaled.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Moonshot Podcast

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

The show centers on radical, real-world moonshots and the people behind them, blending deep technology discussion with human-facing stories about invention, experimentation, and failure. Episodes highlight breakthroughs in AI, robotics, wearables, energy, food systems, and disaster resilience, often grounded in the culture and methods of X, The Moonshot Factory. A standout trait is the candid look at how ambitious projects evolve—from audacious ideas to prototyping, public testing, and sometimes dramatic pivots or setbacks—offering listeners practical takeaways for innovation, product development, and cross-disciplinary collaboration. The format tends to attract listeners who want a clear view into how breakthrough technology is conceived, ... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The Moonshot Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Moonshot Podcast:

1. Planet Money
2. Freakonomics Radio
3. Hard Fork
4. The AI Daily Brief: Artificial Intelligence News and Analysis
5. The Next Big Idea

How many episodes of The Moonshot Podcast are there?

The Moonshot Podcast launched a year ago and published 28 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 The Moonshot Podcast?

Recent guests on The Moonshot Podcast include:

1. Tammo Spalink
2. Raj Apte
3. Neil Treat
4. Claudia Truesdell
5. Kathy Hannun
6. Michelle Kaufmann
7. Adrian Walker
8. Julia Ling

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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