Behind The Tech with Kevin Scott

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TECHNOLOGY

Behind the Tech invites listeners to geek out with an amazing line-up of tech heroes, inventors and innovators. Microsoft CTO Kevin Scott takes tech enthusiasts behind-the-scenes to meet AI experts, computer scientists, authors, musicians, digital leaders, bioengineers and neuroscientists who have made discoveries, built tools, and literally helped make our modern world possible.

12 NOV

Refik Anadol, Director / Media Artist at Refik Anadol Studio, Visiting Researcher & Lecturer at UCLA's Design Media Arts Department.

Refik Anadol, an internationally renowned media artist and director, joins Behind the Tech to discuss his journey from a childhood fascination with computers in Istanbul to becoming a pioneer in the aesthetics of data and machine intelligence. In this episode, Refik shares his early inspirations—including his first encounter with a Commodore computer and the impact of science fiction on his imagination—and discusses how his work explores the intersection of art and technology. Kevin and Refik delve into the challenges and possibilities that ubiquitous computing has imposed on humanity, and how the perception and experience of time and space are radically changing in the digital age. They explore Refik's innovative projects, such as data-driven machine learning algorithms that create abstract, colorful environments and his immersive audio/visual installations that transform entire buildings. They also discuss the significance of AI in art, the concept of 'data painting,' and the future of digital art in a rapidly evolving technological landscape. Learn more and support these organizations in North Carolina: John Britt Pottery akira satake ceramics | GoFundMe Mudtools East Fork Refik Anadol Studio | Refik Anadol Living Art Kevin Scott   Behind the Tech with Kevin Scott   Discover and listen to other Microsoft podcasts.

50 min
9 SEPT

Ben Laude, Professor of Music (Piano Literature & Aural Skills) at Utah State University

Ben Laude, a concert pianist and music educator, joins Behind the Tech to discuss his journey from a suburban childhood in Austin, Texas to becoming a world-renowned classical pianist and YouTube creator. Ben shares his early inspirations—including his father's dabbling in piano and his own private obsession with classical music that began in high school—and discusses the importance of having a good teacher and the role of the early Internet in fueling his passion for piano. In this episode, Kevin and Ben explore the impact of AI on art and artists, the significance of classical piano in Ben's life and his efforts to popularize classical piano through educational content. They discuss the challenges and rewards of pursuing a career in music, the magic of bringing encoded scores (musical notations that serve as instructions for how to perform the music) to life, and the importance of community and feedback in achieving success. Ben Laude | Utah State University Kevin Scott   Behind the Tech with Kevin Scott   Discover and listen to other Microsoft podcasts.

1h 27m
9 JUL

Sal Khan, Founder and CEO of Khan Academy

Sal Khan, founder and CEO of Khan Academy, joins Behind the Tech to discuss his journey from a curious child fascinated by science and technology to a global leader in education innovation. Sal shares his early inspirations that led him to pursue a career in engineering and a degree at MIT, and outlines his lifelong passion for education rooted in the belief that all students have the potential to excel in subjects like math and science with the right tools and encouragement. In this episode, Kevin and Sal explore Sal's vision for Khan Academy, his insights on the intersection of technology and education, and the launch of Khanmigo, Khan Academy’s AI-powered personal tutor. They discuss the challenges of teaching to diverse learning styles and the importance of building confidence and curiosity in students. Sal Khan | Khan Academy | Khanmigo Kevin Scott   Behind the Tech with Kevin Scott   Discover and listen to other Microsoft podcasts.

1h 13m
11 JUN

Ethan Mollick, Author and Associate Professor at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania

Ethan Mollick is an associate professor at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, where he teaches innovation and entrepreneurship. His research focuses on the impact of AI on work and education, and he has published numerous papers and a New York Times-bestselling book on AI, "Co-Intelligence." Ethan is also behind the popular Substack ”One Useful Thing,” which explores the implications of AI for work, education, and life. In this episode, Kevin and Ethan discuss Ethan’s background as a long-time technology enthusiast, his academic journey, and his insights on the current AI revolution. Ethan shares his experiences from running a bulletin board in the '80s to co-founding a startup company before entering academia, and the two discuss topics from the transformative potential of AI and its accessibility to a broader audience to the importance of AI as a co-intelligence tool that can enhance human capabilities. Ethan Mollick | Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania | Co-Intelligence Kevin Scott  Behind the Tech with Kevin Scott  Discover and listen to other Microsoft podcasts.

59 min
14 MAY

Mike Volpi, Partner at Index Ventures

Mike Volpi is a longtime venture capitalist who joined Index Ventures in 2009 to establish the firm's San Francisco office and North American operations. Prior, he was Chief Strategy Officer at Cisco, overseeing a run of acquisitions still studied today as a model for technology merger strategy. Mike invests primarily in artificial intelligence, infrastructure, and open-source companies, and currently serves on the boards of multiple companies including Aurora, ClickHouse, Cockroach Labs, Cohere, Confluent, Covariant.ai, Kong, Scale, Sonos, and Wealthfront. In this episode, Kevin and Mike discuss Mike’s early childhood, how he got interested in the study of engineering, and his career experiences—including what led to Mike’s long career at Cisco and his current Partner position at Index—including his board experiences with multiple companies.   Mike Volpi | Index Ventures Kevin Scott   Behind the Tech with Kevin Scott   Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts.

1h 12m
2 APR

Mike Schroepfer, Partner, Gigascale Capital

In 2023, after departing his role as CTO of Facebook, Mike Schroepfer launched the climate venture capital investment firm Gigascale Capital with the goal of building climate tech companies. Working alongside co-founders Victoria Beasley and Evaline Tsai, Gigascale’s investments are today driving advancements in clean energy, biotech and computing. In this episode, Kevin and Mike discuss Mike’s early childhood and how he got interested in the study of computer science, career experiences in engineering that shaped him, and what ultimately led to his decision to focus on climate change and philanthropic endeavors through his work at Gigascale and his organization Additional Ventures, respectively. Mike Schroepfer | Gigascale Kevin Scott   Behind the Tech with Kevin Scott   Discover and listen to other Microsoft podcasts at news.microsoft.com/podcasts.

1h 5m
27 FEB

Xyla Foxlin, Engineer and YouTube Creator

Xyla Foxlin is an engineer and YouTuber with a passion for making things dating back to her early childhood love of art and creative exploration. What began as a way to entertain herself with whatever materials she could find blossomed into a career as a content creator and maker, showcasing her skills crafting everything from a rocket to a sailboat. In this episode, Xyla and Kevin discuss the challenges she’s faced in the maker space, overcoming imposter syndrome, and the work she’s done to help encourage other women and people of color interested in science, math, and engineering. Xyla Foxlin | @xylafoxlin Kevin Scott   Behind the Tech with Kevin Scott   Discover and listen to other Microsoft podcasts.

1h 7m
8 JAN

Lisa Su, Chair and CEO, AMD

As Chair and CEO of AMD, Lisa Su leads the transformation of the strategy and product execution of one of the fastest growing semiconductor companies in the world. She’s the recipient of numerous awards, and a recent appointee to the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology. In this episode, she discusses her upbringing as the daughter of a mathematician, her early interest in engineering and figuring out how things work, and why she thinks this is the most exciting time in hardware in recent decades. Lisa Su | AMD Kevin Scott  Behind the Tech with Kevin Scott  Discover and listen to other Microsoft podcasts.

1 hr

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TRAILER

Behind The Tech with Kevin Scott - Trailer

Microsoft's CTO Kevin Scott talks about his new, upcoming Behind the Tech podcast.

E1

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3 min

Behind the Tech invites listeners to geek out with an amazing line-up of tech heroes, inventors and innovators. Microsoft CTO Kevin Scott takes tech enthusiasts behind-the-scenes to meet AI experts, computer scientists, authors, musicians, digital leaders, bioengineers and neuroscientists who have made discoveries, built tools, and literally helped make our modern world possible.