He was trapped, able to move only his eyes. Then Neuralink gave him an incredible new ability. In this episode, we dive into the astounding story of Brad Smith, Neuralink's third patient with ALS, who can now control computers, edit videos, and even speak with his own AI-cloned voice using just his thoughts. We explore how this brain-computer interface is not just restoring function but unlocking human potential. PLUS: The US finally starts building its first new Small Modular Nuclear Reactor (SMR), why Weight Watchers filed for bankruptcy in the age of Ozempic, and the arrival of fully driverless 18-wheeler trucks on US highways.

In this episode, we explore Zipline's incredible journey from delivering blood in Rwanda (slashing maternal mortality!) to partnering with Walmart in Dallas for 30-minute deliveries. Plus: why tariffs aren't the answer to reindustrializing America (innovation is), a look inside the cutting-edge factories rebuilding US manufacturing, and why the latest AI models might be closer to AGI than you realize.

Discover why CRISPR technology is defeating genetic diseases faster than you think, restoring sight, hearing, and preventing conditions before birth. We explore the race for supersonic travel (Mach 9 jets?), share our real-world ride in Tesla & Waymo robotaxis, and check out AI drones preventing shark attacks.

In this week's Rational Optimist Podcast, we tackle the growing lawsuit against the NRC set to unleash nuclear innovation and dive into the invisible battlefield shaping modern conflict. Plus: why small modular reactors are the future (and safer than 100 bananas), Joe Lonsdale's plan to slash FDA red tape blocking life-saving cures, how Electronic Warfare is becoming America's next critical challenge, and a pacemaker smaller than a grain of rice.

In this episode of The Rational Optimist Podcast, we take you to El Segundo, California - ground zero for America's Hard Tech Renaissance. Discover why this small-town atmosphere 20 minutes from LA is becoming the epicenter of aerospace, defense, and nuclear innovation. We explore revolutionary technologies from self-replicating robots for Mars colonization to next-generation nuclear reactors and electronic warfare systems. Plus: why America's best engineering talent is choosing Hard Tech over software, how SpaceX veterans are launching a wave of defense startups, and why reindustrializing America might be our most important mission.

In this episode of The Rational Optimist, we explore how AI tutors are revolutionizing education with remarkable results. See how Alpha School students learn 2.2X faster with just 2 hours of academics daily, kindergartners scoring in the top 1%, and how this technology isn't replacing teachers—it's empowering them. Plus: why regulatory obstacles are blocking housing affordability, the shift of top talent to defense tech, and the connection between economic freedom and happiness.

In this week's Rational Optimist Podcast, we explore SpaceX's dramatic rescue of NASA astronauts stranded in space for 9 months after Boeing's spacecraft failure. Plus: how smartphones are linked to declining intelligence and teen mental health crises, the exponential growth of self-driving cars reaching 200,000 weekly rides, and China's breakthrough 5-minute EV charging technology that's changing the transportation landscape.

In this week's Rational Optimist Podcast, we explore why AI will create more jobs than it destroys. Plus: why the history of technology proves optimists right, how creative destruction transforms careers rather than eliminating them, the surprising ways Chinese AI is disrupting the market, and why being more human is your winning strategy in the AI age.