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Artwork for Where What If Becomes What's Next

Where What If Becomes What's Next

Carnegie Mellon University
Artificial Intelligence
Robotics
Agriculture
Carnegie Mellon University
Game Theory
Future Of Work
Healthcare
Machine Learning
Space Exploration
Job Market
Audio Technology
Theater Education
Rising Costs Of Education
Collaboration
Empathy
Technology In Theater
Workers
Economy
Pneumonia
Vera C. Rubin Observatory

Welcome to Season 3 of WHERE WHAT IF BECOMES WHAT’S NEXT. As Carnegie Mellon University celebrates its 125th anniversary, we’re spotlighting 15 CMU inventions that changed the world. From the origins of AI and robotics to innovations in the arts and sciences, join us as we trace the journey from “what if” to “what’s next.” With host Randy Scott, every other Thursday we’re going behind the scenes w... more

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Artwork for Where What If Becomes What's Next

Latest Episodes

What if a successful startup began with a collaborative class project instead of a business plan?

For CMU alum Shanna Tellerman that’s exactly what happened, and it sparked an entrepreneurial career that has reshaped how we design and experience spa... more

YouTube

What if the objects around you weren't just built, but carefully designed to shape how you live?

In this episode, we trace the origins of industrial design from Pittsburgh's factory floors to the iconic products defining modern life — and explore h... more

What happens when a computer scientist is also a trumpet player?

Meet Roger Dannenberg — CMU professor, pioneer of computer music, and co-creator of Audacity — one of the most widely used free audio editing tools in the world.

In this episode, dr... more

What if the secret to saving the planet was hiding in your hallway and under your kitchen sink?

Matt Rogers, Carnegie Mellon University electrical and computer engineering alumnus, joins us to trace a remarkable career path — from engineering iPods... more

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Recent Guests

Rachel Delphia
Curator at the Carnegie Museum of Art and CMU alum
Carnegie Museum of Art / Carnegie Mellon University
Episode: The Shape of Everyday Life: How Carnegie Mellon Revolutionized Industrial Design
Fred Bould
Founder of Bould Design and CMU industrial design alum
Bould Design
Episode: The Shape of Everyday Life: How Carnegie Mellon Revolutionized Industrial Design
Roger Dannenberg
CMU emeritus professor of computer science and art and music, co-creator of Audacity
Carnegie Mellon University
Episode: Making Machines Make Music
Matt Rogers
Co-founder of Nest; CEO and co-founder of Mill; co-founder of Insight
Nest Labs, Mill, Insight
Episode: Designing for the Planet: The Clever Thermostat and the Odorless Food Recycler
Chris Messina
Silicon Valley technologist, product designer, venture capital investor; inventor of the hashtag
Independent/CMU alumnus
Episode: The Birth of the Hashtag: How a Simple Symbol Changed the World
Zico Kolter
Head of the Machine Learning Department at Carnegie Mellon University and newly appointed board member at OpenAI
OpenAI
Episode: Guiding a Safe Future for AI – Part 1
Andreas Pfenning
Associate professor in the Computational Biology Department and School of Computer Science at Carnegie Mellon University, focusing on AI-powered methods for disease detection and treatment.
Carnegie Mellon University
Episode: Unlocking the Future of Gene Therapy
Aarti Singh
Professor in the Machine Learning Department at Carnegie Mellon University and director of the National Science Foundation's AI Institute for Societal Decision Making
Carnegie Mellon University
Episode: Critical Choices: AI in Disaster Management and Healthcare
George Kantor
Research professor in the Robotics Institute at Carnegie Mellon University
Carnegie Mellon University
Episode: Farm to Future: How Robotics and AI are Revolutionizing Agriculture

Host

Randy Scott
Host of Where What If Becomes What's Next; CMU interviewer

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 16 ratings
  • Thought provoking podcast

    Some great episodes on how AI is rocking our world. Thought-provoking.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Robster 7
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Guests bring credible expertise and practical insights.
Episodes that connect CMU history to modern innovation are highly valued.
Listeners praise the show for thoughtful tech storytelling.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#204
United States/News/Tech News
Apple Podcasts
#140
Italy/News/Tech News
Apple Podcasts
#221
Australia/News/Tech News
Apple Podcasts
#233
France/News/Tech News
Apple Podcasts
#127
New Zealand/News/Tech News
Apple Podcasts
#134
Switzerland/News/Tech News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Shape of Everyday Life: How Carnegie Mellon Revolutionized Industrial Design
Q: What was Fred Bould's design philosophy for Nest and how does it guide his team
Fred emphasizes starting with user behavior and function, saying his team should not worry about how something looks until its use and the technology are understood, using drawing and prototyping to communicate ideas before aesthetics or prompts.
The Shape of Everyday Life: How Carnegie Mellon Revolutionized Industrial Design
Q: When did Nest first come to Fred Bould and what was his initial reaction to the project?
The Nest opportunity arrived in 2010 via an CMU alum contact; Fred found the idea of a round thermostat with a modern LCD compelling and timely, recognizing it as a natural evolution of the Honeywell round and a smart leap for contemporary design.
Watching the Universe Change: A New Era in Astronomy Begins
Q: What is CMU's broader role in training the next generation of scientists for Rubin-era astronomy?
CMU emphasizes interdisciplinary training across computer science, physics, statistics, and ML, teaching students data science and AI-assisted software development so they can work effectively with Rubin's datasets.
Watching the Universe Change: A New Era in Astronomy Begins
Q: What makes the LINCC Frameworks approach essential for handling Rubin's data deluge?
LINCC Frameworks reduces computational cost and makes analysis scalable by providing efficient data storage formats and fast data access. This enables researchers to run complex machine-learning classifiers on billions of light curves, democratizing access to Rubin data.
Watching the Universe Change: A New Era in Astronomy Begins
Q: Can you walk us through how CMU got involved with Rubin Observatory and the LINCC Frameworks collaboration?
CMU joined a longstanding consortium (LSST Discovery Alliance) and has contributed to fundraising and leadership, with a sharp focus on software infrastructure. The LINCC Frameworks team develops data formats and access tools so scientists can run advanced analyses—like light-curve classifications—on enormous datasets without needing bespoke software for every researcher.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About Where What If Becomes What's Next

What is Where What If Becomes What's Next about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A forward-looking tech and science podcast that centers CMU's history of invention and its modern impact across design, AI, robotics, space, and healthcare. Episodes often feature CMU researchers, alumni, and industry leaders discussing how curiosity and practical systems thinking drive breakthroughs—from ancient design philosophy to cutting-edge AI safety, gene therapy, and astronomical data infrastructure. Listeners likely include tech professionals, researchers, and product builders who want practical insights, historical context, and forward-looking perspectives on how science and engineering shape everyday life.

Noteworthy elements include owner CMU lineage, a strong emphasis on human-centered design and real-world impact, and a track... more

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Where What If Becomes What's Next launched 2 years ago and published 43 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 Where What If Becomes What's Next?

Recent guests on Where What If Becomes What's Next include:

1. Rachel Delphia
2. Fred Bould
3. Roger Dannenberg
4. Matt Rogers
5. Chris Messina
6. Zico Kolter
7. Andreas Pfenning
8. Aarti Singh

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