25 - Charles Fergus

Doug's Front Porch

#Society #Doug Madenford #Lifestyle #Podcasting Education #I Interview

1:14:43

Artificial intelligence is evolving at an unprecedented pace—what does that mean for the future of technology, venture capital, business, and even our understanding of ourselves? Award-winning journalist and writer Anil Ananthaswamy joins us for our latest episode to discuss his latest book Why Machines Learn: The Elegant Math Behind Modern AI . Anil helps us explore the journey and many breakthroughs that have propelled machine learning from simple perceptrons to the sophisticated algorithms shaping today’s AI revolution, powering GPT and other models. The discussion aims to demystify some of the underlying math that powers modern machine learning to help everyone grasp this technology impacting our lives, even if your last math class was in high school. Anil walks us through the power of scaling laws, the shift from training to inference optimization, and the debate among AI’s pioneers about the road to AGI—should we be concerned, or are we still missing key pieces of the puzzle? The conversation also delves into AI’s philosophical implications—could understanding how machines learn help us better understand ourselves? And what challenges remain before AI systems can truly operate with agency? If you enjoy this episode, please subscribe and leave us a review on your favorite podcast platform. Sign up for our newsletter at techsurgepodcast.com for exclusive insights and updates on upcoming TechSurge Live Summits. Links: Read Why Machines Learn, Anil’s latest book on the math behind AI https://www.amazon.com/Why-Machines-Learn-Elegant-Behind/dp/0593185749 Learn more about Anil Ananthaswamy’s work and writing https://anilananthaswamy.com/ Watch Anil Ananthaswamy’s TED Talk on AI and intelligence https://www.ted.com/speakers/anil_ananthaswamy Discover the MIT Knight Science Journalism Fellowship that shaped Anil’s AI research https://ksj.mit.edu/ Understand the Perceptron, the foundation of neural networks https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perceptron Read about the Perceptron Convergence Theorem and its significance https://www.nature.com/articles/323533a0…

il y a 4 ans 54:20

MP3•Maison d'episode

In this episode Charles Fergus joins me on the front porch. We discuss his childhood growing up in Centre County, PA. We also talk about his journey from being a nature writer to a writer of historical mysteries. Finally we discuss his love of singing and the various groups the he sings with in his free time.
To learn more about Charles and purchase his books, check out: https://charlesfergus.com/

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102 episodes

25 - Charles Fergus

Doug's Front Porch

published il y a 4 ans

MP3•Maison d'episode

Support the show

102 episodes

#Society #Doug Madenford #Lifestyle #Podcasting Education #I Interview

Tous les épisodes

1
97 - Frank Redmon 53:53

il y a 1 day53:53

53:53

In this episode we welcome Dr. Francis (Frank) Redmon on to the Front Porch. Frank is currently the superintendent of schools for the Keystone Central School District in Mill Hall, PA...and my boss. We discuss his childhood growing up the son of a Marine father and all of the many places that he moved to and lived in. We also discuss his path to becoming a teacher, a principal and finally to the role of being a superintendent. We discuss his philosophy on leadership and how he envisions public ed moving in the future. Get your Front Porch merch! Support the show…

1
96 - Scott Reagan 44:43

il y a environ 30 jours44:43

44:43

In this episode I welcome Scott Reagan onto the Front Porch. We discuss his childhood that was immersed in all kinds of music, his undergrad work in German and his graduate work in ethnomusicology. We also discuss his current work at Martin Guitar and writing and performing traditional and original PA Dutch language folk music. We close the interview out with our 10 quick questions. Listen to Scott's PA Dutch Music ! Listen to Scott's English language music ! Get your Front Porch merch ! Become a Front Porch Patron ! Support the show…

1
95 - Welcome 2025! 13:46

il y a 9 weeks13:46

13:46

In this episode we welcome 2025 in by taking a short journey through my trusty Baer's Agricultural Almanac. We take a look at long range forecasts for the year, major anniversaries happening, and some humorous stories as well. Get your own copy of Baer's Almanac ! Get your Front Porch Merch ! Become a Patron ! Support the show…

1
94 - Eve Allen 47:21

il y a 13 weeks47:21

47:21

In this episode I welcome Eve Allen on to the front porch. Eve is the program director for the Northeast Bioregion at the Ecological Health Network. We discuss her work on improving the supply of native seeds and plants to support ecological restoration, her travels, and the importance of the human connection to our ecosystem. To learn more: Ecological Health Network Cultivate the Wild Follow Eve on Instagram: @cultivatethewild Get your Front Porch Merch ! Become a Patron ! Support the show…

1
93 - Norman Jung 48:56

il y a 17 weeks48:56

48:56

We go international this month as we welcome my good friend, Norman Jung, from Steinbach am Glan, Germany, on to the Front Porch. We discuss the wisdom and life lessons instilled in Norman by his grandparents, his study abroad in Arizona, and his work with the Pennsylvania Dutch culture from his side of the Atlantic. We end with our classic 10 quick questions. Get your Front Porch Swag ! Become a Patron ! Support the show…

1
92 - Jeremy Nolen 35:41

il y a 22 weeks35:41

35:41

In this episode I invite award winning chef, Jeremy Nolen onto the front porch. We discuss his lifelong affair with food and his particular love of German cuisine. We also discuss his newest endeavor of offering tours to germanic Europe that are all food and drink focused. He also offers some advice for all of you foodies and home cooks out there! Get Jeremy's book: New German Cuisine Check out his new tour company: Savor Germany Get your Front Porch Merch ! Become a Paton on Patreon ! Support the show…

1
91 - Tyler Barth 42:50

il y a 26 weeks42:50

42:50

In this episode I welcome Tyler Barth, Principal of Robb Elementary School in Lock Haven, PA, on to the front porch. We discuss his childhood that was heavily influenced by both his parents and his grandparents. We also discuss why he went into education, his transition from the classroom to the principal's office, and how he builds and maintains a culture of caring and excellence in his building. Get your Front Porch Merch ! Become a Patron ! Support the show…

1
90 - Len Rutecki (Replay) 45:29

il y a 31 weeks45:29

45:29

In this episode I welcome friend and colleague, Len Rutecki, onto the front porch. Len is the autism teacher at my school and we discuss all things autism from what it is to how he works with his students. We also discuss how Len uses his gifts and abilities to raise money and awareness for autism outside of school. Throughout his life he has learned one thing that he continues to challenge us all to do: be kind. [Originally aired April 01, 2023] Learn more about Lenny Lifts ! Get your Front Porch merch! Support the Show. Support the show…

1
89 - Ethan Rode 45:03

il y a 35 weeks45:03

45:03

In this episode I welcome fellow PA Dutch instructor and friend, Ethan Rode, up on the front porch. We discuss his childhood growing up on a farm, his move to Canada to study linguistics and his recent work as an online instructor of the PA Dutch language. Get your Front Porch Merch ! Become a Patron ! Support the show…

1
88 - The Class of 2024 41:29

il y a 39 weeks41:29

41:29

In this episode I continue the tradition of talking with some of my graduating seniors. This year I welcome Griffin Redmon, Sofia Dressler, Elise Cygan, and Emily Shetler onto the Front Porch. We discuss their time in high school, their accomplishments, their fears, and what they are most proud of. We close our discussion with our usual 10 quick questions. Get your Front Porch Merch ! Become a Patron of the Show ! Support the show…

1
87 - Tara Mondock 42:43

il y a 44 weeks42:43

42:43

In this episode I welcome Tara Mondock up on the front porch. We discuss her childhood in Florida, her sojourn to college in western North Carolina, and her work with the Extension Office at the Pennsylvania State University. We then turn our discussion to her experience as an active member of the Order of the Eastern Star and their main charity: the Service Dog Project. We close the discussion with our 10 quick questions. Learn more about the Order of the Eastern Star . Learn more about the Susquehanna Service Dogs . Get your Front Porch Merch ! Support the show…

1
86 - Bill Donner 47:42

il y a 48 weeks47:42

47:42

In this episode I welcome Dr. William Donner onto the front porch. Bill is currently the Freyberger Professor of Pennsylvania German Studies at Kutztown University and is also the chair of the Anthropology and Sociology Department. We discuss his time living on a small Polynesian island in the pacific to his work studying and researching the Pennsylvania Dutch. We also talk about how he defines culture and just how do cultures evolve and how that evolution affects the identity of a culture. Get your Front Porch Merch ! Support the show…

1
85 - Lew Bryson 43:32

il y a 1 year43:32

43:32

In this episode I welcome Lew Bryson up on to the front porch. We discuss his journey from rural Lancaster county to his love of food and drink including his various publications about beer and whiskey. We close our discussion talking about his current podcast, Seen Through A Glass, and discuss the value and importance of eating and drinking locally. Get Lew's Books ! Hear Seen Through A Glass ! Get your Front Porch merch ! Support the show…

1
84 - Richard Mammana 46:11

il y a 1 year46:11

46:11

In this episode I welcome Richard Mammana on to the front porch. We discuss his multi-ethnic childhood growing up in Easton, PA. We also discuss his acamdemic journey of studying greek, latin, and church history. We close our conversation with a discussion about his current work of documenting colonial-era Pennsylvania Dutch tombstones and what walking hundreds of old cemeteries has taught him about life. Check out Richard's work on Facebook ! Get your Front Porch Merch! Support the show…

1
83 - Welcome 2024 20:05

il y a 1 year20:05