2Humans Podcast

2Humans Podcast
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2Humans is a weekly podcast for people who want to understand the forces shaping our world. Topics we cover include frontier AI and the model wars, venture capital and startup strategy, financial markets and economics, the global energy transition, and the geopolitical forces that connect them all. Ross and Fede met as PhD students at UCL, both building startups while conducting research at the intersection of technology and entrepreneurship. They quickly discovered something useful: they agreed on almost everything that matters in the world, and almost nothing about how to think about it. A Jungian personality test confirmed what was already obvious: they sit on complete opposite ends of the spectrum. Rather than let that be a problem, they made it into a podcast!

  1. Aug 16

    Can the UK Afford to Grow Old? Rethinking Pensions, Immigration & Growth

    Can the UK afford its ageing population? In this episode, Ross and Fede explore one of Britain’s biggest long-term challenges: fewer workers supporting a growing number of retirees. With pension costs rising, birth rates falling and economic growth stagnating, does the UK need a completely new approach? They debate two unconventional policy proposals: • Gradually replacing universal state pensions with stronger personal savings, financial education and targeted support • Using wealth taxes and public investment to fund housing, renewable energy and British startups • Creating a flexible visa that attracts young workers while rewarding those who return home after contributing to the UK economy • Encouraging people to invest in British companies and infrastructure • Moving beyond traditional left-versus-right thinking to design policies that combine economic growth with government support Could these ideas create a more sustainable economy—or would they introduce even bigger problems? Let us know what you think in the comments. How would you address Britain’s ageing population and pension crisis?

    Can the UK Afford to Grow Old? Rethinking Pensions, Immigration & Growth

  2. Aug 16

    We can now re-write DNA - but should we?

    What actually is genetic engineering? How close are we to designer babies, de-extinction, and curing genetic disease? And once we can rewrite DNA, where do we draw the moral line? Ross and Fede explore how gene editing really works, what is possible today, and what may be possible in the future. Ross is a PhD researcher working on gene editing, so he puts Fede through an escalating series of ethical dilemmas—from realistic medical treatments to increasingly controversial future scenarios—to ask one question: Just because we can... should we?

    We can now re-write DNA - but should we?

  3. Jul 11

    Socialism vs. Capitalism in the Age of AI

    Artificial intelligence could create the most prosperous society in human history, or the greatest concentration of wealth ever seen. In this episode, we explore three competing visions for AI’s future: Fully Automated Luxury Communism, Creative Destruction, and Power & Progress. We discuss who should own AI, whether work will disappear, how governments should respond, and present our own proposal for building an AI-powered society that maximises innovation while ensuring its benefits are shared across everyone, not just a handful of technology companies.

  4. Jul 2

    The UK Social Media Ban: ban the feed or fix the feed

    The conversation delves into the implications of the new social media policy in the UK, discussing the generational impact, motivation behind the policy, and the challenges of parental oversight and government intervention. It explores the influence of social media, the need for transparency and accountability in algorithms, and the potential impact of age verification and content regulation. The conversation also addresses the challenges of anonymity, foreign influence, and the potential impact of social media regulation on user behavior and societal isolation. Takeaways The need for a balanced approach to social media regulation, addressing both the positive and negative aspects of social media for different age groups.The importance of transparency, accountability, and oversight in social media algorithms and content regulation, while considering the challenges of age verification and foreign influence. Ross Horlock is a PhD researcher at University College London working on immunology for cancer treatment. He is an ex AstraZeneca and Syngenta research scientist. Fede Gambedotti is a PhD researcher at University College London modelling energy transition and energy equity. He is a former power trading analyst at Drax Group.

    The UK Social Media Ban: ban the feed or fix the feed

  5. Jun 7

    Real Science That Sounds Like Sci-Fi: Fly Brains and Organoid Computers

    In this episode of 2Humans, we look at two recent science papers that sound like they escaped from a sci-fi film: a digitally reconstructed fly brain/connectome, and brain organoids being explored as computing systems. We talk through what the research actually shows, why it feels so strange, and what it might mean for neuroscience, computing, AI, and the slightly unsettling future of biological machines. Links and references: Kagan et al. (2022): https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0896627322008066 Cai et al. (2023): https://www.nature.com/articles/s41928-023-01069-w Robbins et al. (2026): https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41720084/ Scientific American / Cortical Labs (2026): https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-human-neurons-on-a-chip-learned-to-play-doom/ Schlegel et al. (2024): https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-07686-5 Shiu et al. (2024): https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-07763-9 NIH context page: https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/researchers-fully-map-neural-connections-fruit-fly-brain Eon Systems demo: https://eon.systems/updates/embodied-brain-emulation

    Real Science That Sounds Like Sci-Fi: Fly Brains and Organoid Computers

  6. May 13

    The Future of Energy: fossil fuels vs nuclear vs renewable power

    The conversation delves into the importance of the energy sector for economic growth and energy independence. It explores the cost benefit of renewable energy versus fossil fuels, highlighting the long-term sustainability and economic advantages of renewable energy. Additionally, it discusses the challenges and opportunities in transitioning to renewable energy and the impact of energy choices on climate change and environmental sustainability. Takeaways Renewable energy is cheaper and more sustainable long termThe energy sector is essential for economic growth and energy independence Chapters 00:00 Intro: fossil fuels, nuclear or renewables?02:40 Why energy matters for the economy 05:12 Climate change, extreme weather and the energy transition 07:35 Why fossil fuels are coming back into the debate 10:31 Are renewables actually cheaper? 14:38 The case for and against nuclear power 18:20 Centralised vs decentralised energy systems 25:24 What the ideal energy mix could look like 29:17 Why investors still favour fossil fuels 31:28 Energy independence and national security 36:15 Household energy independence and inequality 39:49 Energy communities and local solutions 42:52 Are renewables still the future? 48:51 What Norway and China understand about energy 51:51 Final thoughts

    The Future of Energy: fossil fuels vs nuclear vs renewable power

  7. Apr 29

    Claude Mythos, Datacentres, Iran: Who Controls the Future Now?

    Ross Horlock is a PhD researcher at University College London working on immunology for cancer treatment. He is an ex AstraZeneca and Syngenta research scientist. Fede Gambedotti is a PhD researcher at University College London modelling energy transition and energy equity. He is a former power trading analyst at Drax Group. In this conversation, Ross and Fede discuss the release of the Anthropic Mythos model and its implications, the future of access to AI models and tools, the banning and limiting of data centers in the US states, and the impact of data center restrictions on the global economy and security. The conversation covers the impact of the Iran war on global energy security, the introduction of Mamdani's mansion tax in New York City, and the discussion of SpaceX's IPO and acquisitions. The challenges of energy independence in Europe and the implications of Mamdani's tax policy are highlighted as key takeaways. Takeaways Cybersecurity models are becoming more specialized and restricted in their usageThe impact of data centers on energy consumption and economic development Energy independence challenges in EuropeImplications of Mamdani's mansion tax in New York City Links: Substack Article: https://substack.com/@fedegam/note/p-194626903?r=20m56t&utm_source=notes-share-action&utm_medium=web Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Current Events in Tech06:10 The Future of Access to AI Models and Tools13:10 Banning and Limiting Data Centers in the US States22:17 The Impact of Data Center Restrictions on Global Economy and Security29:50 Impact of Iran War on Energy Security56:46 Mamdani's Mansion Tax01:08:41 SpaceX IPO and Acquisitions

    Claude Mythos, Datacentres, Iran: Who Controls the Future Now?

  8. Apr 25

    Cancer Researcher Explains The Immunotherapy Revolution: How Your Body Will Cure Cancer from Within

    Ross Horlock is a PhD researcher at University College London working on immunology for cancer treatment. He is an ex AstraZeneca and Syngenta research scientist. Fede Gambedotti is a PhD researcher at University College London modelling energy transition and energy equity. He is a former power trading analyst at Drax Group. The conversation delves into the concept of immunotherapy as a revolutionary approach to cancer treatment. It covers the nature of cancer, the role of the immune system, the history of cancer treatment, and the emergence of immunotherapy. Additionally, it explores the potential of CAR T cell therapy as a promising immunotherapeutic approach. The conversation delves into the world of immunotherapy and CAR T cell therapy, exploring the different types of immunotherapy, their mechanisms, accessibility, and cost. It also discusses the future of cancer treatment and research, highlighting the potential impact of these therapies on the field of oncology. Takeaways Cancer is a result of cells in the body losing control of their proliferation, apoptosis, and immunosurveillance.Immunotherapy involves reprogramming the body's immune system to target and destroy cancer cells. Immunotherapy is a revolutionary approach to cancer treatmentCAR T cell therapy is a promising but expensive treatment option Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Immunotherapy09:18 Types of Cancer and Prevention14:24 Key Components of Cancer Treatment22:45 Introduction to Immunology28:09 Immunotherapy and Cancer Treatment54:25 CAR T Cell Therapy01:01:14 Introduction to Immunotherapy and CAR T Cell Therapy01:07:03 Accessibility and Cost of Immunotherapy

    Cancer Researcher Explains The Immunotherapy Revolution: How Your Body Will Cure Cancer from Within
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About

2Humans is a weekly podcast for people who want to understand the forces shaping our world. Topics we cover include frontier AI and the model wars, venture capital and startup strategy, financial markets and economics, the global energy transition, and the geopolitical forces that connect them all. Ross and Fede met as PhD students at UCL, both building startups while conducting research at the intersection of technology and entrepreneurship. They quickly discovered something useful: they agreed on almost everything that matters in the world, and almost nothing about how to think about it. A Jungian personality test confirmed what was already obvious: they sit on complete opposite ends of the spectrum. Rather than let that be a problem, they made it into a podcast!

Information

  • Creator
    2Humans Podcast
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    13
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 2Humans Podcast
  • Show Website
    2Humans Podcast