The Next Byte

Hosted by Daniel Scott Mitchell, Farbod Moghaddam

Technology Science Education

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Episodes

252

Latest episode

Sep 2026

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About the show

We're two engineers on a mission to make interesting technology easy to understand. In each episode, we explore tech that is going to change the world – and keep it entertaining along the way.

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60 recent

September 28, 20261 hr 5 min

251. Michael Corr & Justin Sears on How Altium & Duro Are Fueling the Next Generation of Hardware Startups

(00:00) The Evolution of Hardware Development (00:54) Breaking Down Silos in Hardware Teams (01:08) Introducing Michael Corr and Justin Sears (03:31) The Origin and Growth of Duro (06:11) Duro’s Move into the Mid-Market (11:06) Supply Chain Challenges During COVID (12:23) Expansion into Aerospace and the Altium Integration (17:17) Why Data Silos and the Digital Thread Matter (24:02) Benchmark Electronics and Multidisciplinary Collaboration (25:24) How Altium Supports Duro’s Growth (28:44) The API-First Approach and the Future of Engineering AI (34:31) Customer Stories and Platform Impact (41:27) Asteroid Mining and Space Technology (46:02) The Product Roadmap and Specialized AI Agents (01:01:35) The Rise of Small, Fast-Moving Hardware Startups This episode was brought to you by Altium . Altium Agile Teams connects design, procurement, and manufacturing teams in one collaborative platform. Watch the Benchmark Electronics case study mentioned in the episode to see how Benchmark uses the platform to collaborate across disciplines and locations. Learn more about Duro and its cloud-based product lifecycle management platform. Connect with Michael Corr on LinkedIn . Connect with Justin Sears on LinkedIn . Become a founding reader of our newsletter: http://read.thenextbyte.com/ As always, you can find these and other interesting & impactful engineering articles on Wevolver.com.

September 1, 202622 min

250. MIT’s Injectable Mini Liver Could Save Thousands of Lives

This episode was brought to you by Mouser, our go-to source for electronics parts for any hobby or prototype. Click HERE to discover how additive manufacturing is revolutionizing cornea transplants. Become a founding reader of our newsletter: http://read.thenextbyte.com/ As always, you can find these and other interesting & impactful engineering articles on Wevolver.com.

July 21, 202621 min

249. Harvard’s Smartwatch Makes You Run Faster & Safer

This episode was brought to you by Mouser, our go-to source for electronics parts for any hobby or prototype. Click HERE to discover how modern engineering has revolutionized the construction and durability of wearable tech. Become a founding reader of our newsletter: http://read.thenextbyte.com/ As always, you can find these and other interesting & impactful engineering articles on Wevolver.com.

July 14, 202659 min

248. Xometry’s Oscar Lovera & How AI Is Rebuilding Manufacturing

Key takeaways: Manufacturing is becoming faster by bringing design, quoting, manufacturability feedback, and sourcing into one connected workflow. AI should augment engineers, automating repetitive tasks while leaving complex decisions and relationship-building to people. The biggest bottlenecks in manufacturing are often information flow and connectivity, not the manufacturing process itself. Great manufacturing partners don’t always have the newest technology. Strong processes, culture, and operational excellence matter more than flashy equipment. Global manufacturing networks are becoming more resilient through flexibility, allowing companies to adapt quickly to changing supply chain conditions. The best engineering careers are built through intentional career choices, strong mentors, and continuous learning, not by following a predetermined path. (00:00) Introduction to Oscar Lovera and Xometry (04:50) The Evolution of Manufacturing and Xometry’s Role (07:53) Challenges in Traditional Manufacturing (10:42) Technological Innovations in Manufacturing (13:47) Supply Chain Dynamics and Xometry’s Approach (16:39) Human vs. AI in Manufacturing (19:39) Benefits for Partners in the Xometry Ecosystem (22:39) The Future of Manufacturing and Xometry’s Vision (33:29) Evolution of Maintenance and Technology (36:20) Technology Adoption in Manufacturing (39:49) The Importance of Fundamentals in Manufacturing (48:37) Hot Takes on Local Sourcing and Data (53:32) Career Advice for Future Engineers Become a founding reader of our newsletter: http://read.thenextbyte.com/ As always, you can find these and other interesting & impactful engineering articles on Wevolver.com.

June 16, 202618 min

247. NASA’s Electric Thruster That Could Take Us to Mars

This episode was brought to you by Mouser, our go-to source for electronics parts for any hobby or prototype. Click HERE to discover how hydrogen fuel cells are helping power the next generation of electric aircraft and making sustainable aviation a reality. Become a founding reader of our newsletter: http://read.thenextbyte.com/ As always, you can find these and other interesting & impactful engineering articles on Wevolver.com.

June 2, 202614 min

246. Future of Bone Repair Starts with a 3D Printer

This episode was brought to you by Mouser, our go-to source for electronics parts for any hobby or prototype. Click HERE to see how 3D metal printing is making custom medical implants stronger, better fitting, and tailored to every patient. Become a founding reader of our newsletter: http://read.thenextbyte.com/ As always, you can find these and other interesting & impactful engineering articles on Wevolver.com.

May 19, 202617 min

245. No More 3D Print Failures Thanks To… AI?

This episode was brought to you by Mouser, our go-to source for electronics parts for any hobby or prototype. Click HERE to learn the machine safety best practices that keep modern industrial automation running safely, reliably, and efficiently. Become a founding reader of our newsletter: http://read.thenextbyte.com/ As always, you can find these and other interesting & impactful engineering articles on Wevolver.com.

May 5, 202647 min

244. The Hidden Power of Engineers as Storytellers (with Mouser’s Matt Campbell & Ricky Flores)

(00:00) Intro and meet Matt and Ricky (03:00) Backgrounds: Matt's engineering-adjacent path and Ricky's 15 years at TI (04:03) What TMEs actually do, plus the bunny suit story (08:02) Cool projects: STM32N6 and the $22 Synaptics Astra 1680 (14:01) Communication as an engineer's secret weapon (21:03) Favorite verticals: AI, RF, and the Maxwell statue tangent (27:00) Hot takes: hardware is the other half of AI, and the button comeback (34:02) Why they like working at Mouser (36:00) Career advice: GPA, study groups, and what engineering school skips (41:01) What people don't know about Mouser, from same-hour shipping to robotic arms This episode was brought to you by Mouser , our go-to source for electronics parts for any hobby or prototype. Want to learn more? Check out the links mentioned by our guests during this episode: Matt mentioned the recent Empowering Innovation Together series covering urban air mobility. Ricky highlighted the Mouser team’s library of hardware project walkthroughs -- As always, you can find these and other interesting & impactful engineering articles on Wevolver.com. To learn more about our show, please visit our shows page . By following the page, you will get automatic updates by email when a new show is published. Be sure to give us a follow and review on Apple podcasts, Spotify , and most of your favorite podcast platforms! Become a founding reader of our newsletter: http://read.thenextbyte.com/ As always, you can find these and other interesting & impactful engineering articles on Wevolver.com.

March 31, 202621 min

243. Cycling’s “Supersuit” Moment is Here

(06:26) Performance Enhancement through Next-Gen Textiles (12:46) Adaptive Aerodynamics in Sports Clothing (19:49) Conclusion and Future Implications This episode was brought to you by Mouser, our go-to source for electronics parts for any hobby or prototype. Click HERE to learn more about how additive manufacturing could reduce waste in fashion. Become a founding reader of our newsletter: http://read.thenextbyte.com/ As always, you can find these and other interesting & impactful engineering articles on Wevolver.com.

March 10, 202643 min

242. Mouser’s Matt Bell & The Next Generation of Automated Warehouses

(00:00) Introduction to Matt Bell and Mouser Electronics (03:14) Understanding Mouser's Operations and Scale (06:12) The Role of Automation in Order Fulfillment (09:15) Philosophy on Automation and Workforce Integration (12:12) Growth and Expansion of Mouser's Operations (15:15) Identifying Automation Opportunities (18:09) Balancing Existing Technologies with New Innovations (20:58) Strategic Investment in Automation (22:04) Emerging Technologies in Logistics (22:46) Navigating Technology Choices (23:18) Flexibility in Automation (24:54) In-House Development vs. Off-the-Shelf Solutions (26:41) Collaboration Across Teams (28:37) The Importance of Team Dynamics (30:21) Lessons Learned Over Two Decades (31:55) Advice for New Professionals (33:48) Listening for Improvement (36:37) The Scale of Operations (38:23) Final Thoughts and Advice This episode was brought to you by Mouser , our go-to source for electronics parts for any hobby or prototype. Click HERE to check out the many resources shared by Mouser across a range of topics from AI to Healthcare. Want to hear more from Matt? Give him a follow on LinkedIn Become a founding reader of our newsletter: http://read.thenextbyte.com/ As always, you can find these and other interesting & impactful engineering articles on Wevolver.com.