Helical Brew
Just like the DNA of Life from which the phrase, the DNA of Technology originated, the helical construct is a rollercoaster of endless learning, experimentation, and discovery. The Helical Brew Crew is here to take you along for the ride in a fun, relaxed and informative podcast that explores the twists and turns of technology. We are an enthusiastic group of engineering, scientific, and business professionals that share a passion for the development, mastery, and deployment of technology.
Episodes
▶️ Guest: Tim Verweij, Global Automation Expert, Lab Services B.V.
🎙 Hosts: Sura Hadi & Mike Ouren
📻 This episode of Automation in the Wild explores what actually makes automation successful - and why simplicity, trust, and saying no are more powerful than the flashiest robot on the showroom floor.
Tim Verweij walks us through his journey from hands-on scientist to global automation leader. We get into real-world system design, ...
▶️ Hosts: Sura Hadi & Mike Ouren📻 Between AI episodes, we’re keeping it casual - over earthquakes, TikTok confessions, Amazon scams, PS5 dreams, and nostalgic tales of moving and gaming through the decades.This Helical Brew Intermission brings Sura and Mike into an unfiltered conversation across tech chaos, gaming nostalgia, and retail horror stories, all fueled by caffeine and a little friendly PS4 shaming.🔹 Earthquake dog-p...
▶️ Hosts: Sura Hadi, Mike Ouren & Elizabeth Rodziewicz
📻 In this Helical Brew Intermission, the crew dives deep into the chaos of modern tech, from Disney’s Pear computers to Tesla-vandal-proof bumper stickers, and the Gen Z slang your pilot probably shouldn’t use.
We talk cloud storage obsession, overpriced iPhones, obscure headphone specs, and whether Apple and Sony could’ve been soulmates if not for one keynote burn.
🔹 Why Di...
▶️ Hosts: Sura Hadi & Mike Ouren
📻 Between AI episodes, we took a detour - into Scotch rituals, comic book logic, nostalgic TV, science jokes, and what lab automation might smell like.
This Helical Brew Intermission brings co-hosts Mike and Sura into an unfiltered conversation covering everything from lab coat mottos to Friday movie quotes.
🔹 What if your science career was a comic book?
🔹 Can beer tasting be a scientific exper...
▶️ Hosts: Elizabeth Rodziewicz, Sura Hadi, Jeff Nagle, and Mike Ouren
🎙 Guest: G. Tony Reina | Head of Machine Learning, Exthymic
🔍 Episode Title: “The Machine Learning Blueprint: AI Architecture with G. Anthony Reina”
In the third episode of our AI Thought Leaders Series, we welcome AI architect and machine learning expert G. Tony Reina for a mind-expanding conversation on the evolution and impact of AI in biotech, diagnostics, and...
▶️ Hosts: Elizabeth Rodziewicz, Sura Hadi, Jeff Nagle, and Mike Ouren
🎙️ Helical Brew - AI Thought Leaders Series | Episode 2
What if AI hallucinations held the key to scientific progress?
In this episode, we’re joined by John Conway, founder of 20/15 Visioneers and longtime pharma executive, for a raw and powerful conversation on how AI is reshaping life sciences - from institutional memory to software standardization.
💥 We explore ...
▶️ Hosts: Elizabeth Rodziewicz, Sura Hadi, Jeff Nagle, and Mike Ouren
🧠 The next scientific revolution is here - and it’s powered by AI.
In the premiere episode of our AI Thought Leaders Series, we sit down with Nick Edwards, PhD, neuroscientist and CEO of Potato AI, to explore the future of AI in scientific research and lab automation.
🔹 Can AI design better experiments than scientists?
🔹 How close are we to true closed-loop scien...
▶️Hosts: Elizabeth Rodziewicz, Sura Hadi, Jeff Nagle, and Mike Ouren
🚀 Lab automation is supposed to make work easier - but why are scientists still stuck babysitting machines?
Companies spend hundreds of thousands on automation, only to assign full-time staff to ensure it actually works. That’s not automation - it’s inefficiency.
In this episode of Helical Brew, we break down the real challenges of lab automation, from bad design de...
▶️Hosts: Elizabeth Rodziewicz, Sura Hadi, Jeff Nagle, and Mike Ouren
🚀 The best ideas don’t always win—execution does.In the final episode of our Blueprints to Breakthroughs series, we sit down with Julie O’Shaughnessy, COO of Vivodyne, to uncover why biotech operations are the secret weapon behind scaling scientific discoveries into real-world breakthroughs.
🔹 Why do biotech startups struggle to transition from R&D to commerci...
Title: 🤖 Connected Labs: How Automata is Scaling Scientific Automation | Mostafa ElSayed | Helical Brew
Hosts: Elizabeth Rodziewicz, Sura Hadi, Jeff Nagle, and Mike Ouren🚨 Lab automation is evolving—beyond isolated robots to fully connected, scalable workflows. But are we thinking big enough?
In this episode of Helical Brew, Mostafa ElSayed, CEO of Automata, shares how his company pivoted from robotics to building a cloud-first, mo...
Hosts: Elizabeth Rodziewicz, Sura Hadi, Jeff Nagle, and Mike Ouren
No guest this week, but Jeff, Sura, and Mike talk Hockey, MacBook Dongles, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Rush and more on a relaxed intermission episode. Enjoy!
Hosts: Elizabeth Rodziewicz, Sura Hadi, Jeff Nagle, and Mike Ouren
Description: In our second episode of the Blueprints to Breakthroughs series we sit down and talk with silk biomaterial enthusiast, Co-founder, and Chief Technology Officer David Breslauer. His company, Bolt (https://boltthreads.com) has a fascinating story to tell about pivoting and adapting to both market needs and technological feasibility in its path to success. ...
Hosts: Elizabeth Rodziewicz, Sura Hadi, Jeff Nagle, and Mike Ouren
Description: Welcome to our first episode in our Blueprints to Breakthroughs series. In this episode we talk with James Fieberg, a passionate STEM educator. James is a San Diego County Teacher of the Year winner and AP physics teacher.
Segment 1: The Future of Engineering Engineering Education
Segment 2: Essential Skills for Future Innovators
Segment 3: Encouraging Inno...
Hosts: Elizabeth Rodziewicz, Sura Hadi, Jeff Nagle, and Mike Ouren
Description: Special edition alert! All four of us got together in San Diego and share our thoughts on SLAS 2025.
Guest: Ian Cooper, Founder & Lab Automation Recruitment Consultant
Hosts: Elizabeth Rodziewicz, Sura Hadi, Jeff Nagle, and Mike Ouren
Description: In the third and final episode of our SLAS 2025 conference lead up series, we talked with Ian Cooper, a seasoned recruiter that specializes in Lab Automation.
In this episode, you will hear the insiders perspective about:
-What’s the right about of time to put towards a job...
Guest: Eli Fine, Lab Automator, Software & Informatics Engineer Hosts: Elizabeth Rodziewicz, Sura Hadi, Jeff Nagle, and Mike Ouren Description: Join us for a deep dive into startups, automating lab workflows, and the role of open-source code in driving innovation. -Open Source and the powerful community approach to solving complex problems. -Robolint, an open source tool for automated analysis of liquid handler methods t...
Guest: Will Serber, VP of Automation at Ginkgo Bioworks Hosts: Elizabeth Rodziewicz, Sura Hadi, Jeff Nagle, and Mike Ouren Description: The Brew Crew kicks off our SLAS (Society of Laboratory Automation and Screening) 2025 with our special guest Will Serber. -Standardization within Science and Technology used in the pursuit of it -Community knowledge sharing and elimination of reinvention -Unique approach supporting lab automa...
Hosts: Elizabeth Rodziewicz, Sura Hadi, Jeff Nagle, and Mike Ouren As we wind down 2024 with our final episode of the year, we discuss some of the things we are looking forward to in 2025. In this Episode:
-AI is no doubt part of our daily dialog, but what does it really mean when you peel back the message and dig deeper.
-How much is AI actually coming up in discussions about
-What are some of the areas, besides things like...
Hosts: Elizabeth Rodziewicz, Sura Hadi, Jeff Nagle, and Mike Ouren From all of us at the Helical Brew we wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! In this Episode: -How did we get here and where are we going to go with the podcast. We reflect on the flood of ideas that have come from having a web domain, logo, and a growing audience.
-AirPods Pro 2 are an amazing gadget given that they are still adding features even after ...
Hosts: Elizabeth Rodziewicz, Sura Hadi, Jeff Nagle, and Mike Ouren The Helical Brew Crew is back with a new episode and also back on schedule with weekly releases. Enjoy! In this Episode: -A new logo is coming soon and share some initial reactions to this very exciting upgrade to our channel and content. -We check-in on some of the technology that was announced at SLAS in 2024. With 12 months under their belt, where are things...
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