Big Ideas Only: Recent Episodes
Montanus
In Big Ideas Only, we explore all things science. Why? Because science is probably the most fascinating thing on the planet – and off the planet!
In the podcast, we talk to leading scientists and experts, and try to grasp some of the deep knowledge they work with every day.
This podcast is produced by Montanus: https://montanus.co
In this episode of Big Ideas Only, host Mikkel Svold takes a theoretical deep dive into how computers “see” with Andreas Møgelmose (Associate Professor of AI, Aalborg University; Visual Analysis & Perception Lab).
We unpack the neural-network ideas behind modern vision, why 2012 was a turning point, how convolutional networks work, the difference between training, fine-tuning and adding context, plus explainability, bias traps, multimodality, and what still needs solving.
In this episode, you’ll learn about:
How a 2012 vision breakthrough reshaped speech and language research2. Neural networks explained simply — how they learn patterns from data
3. CNNs: how computers spot shapes and textures in images
4. Training, fine-tuning, and adding context to make models smarter
5. From hand-crafted features to fully data-driven learning
6. Explainability: the “ruler in skin-cancer photos” bias trap and what it teaches us
7. Multimodal systems: models combining text, images, and tools
8. Depth sensing with stereo, lidar, radar, and time-of-flight — and when 3D is essential
9. Privacy and governance: why real risk lies in implementation, not vision itself
10. Open challenges: fine-grained recognition, explainability, and machine unlearning
11. The pace of progress: steady research with headline-making leaps
Episode Content
01:09 How computer vision differs from other AI fields
01:16 The 2012 breakthrough: neural networks in vision that spread to speech and text
04:05 Neural networks 101: neurons, weights, and simple math scaled up to complex decisions
07:06 Training at scale: millions of images, pretraining, and fine-tuning for specific tasks
10:39 Fine-tuning vs. adding context in large language models; backpropagation explained
16:52 Layered learning: from edges to shapes, faces, and full objects
18:22 Before deep learning: feature engineering and why it hit its limits
20:44 How it’s built: data collection, architecture design, training loops, and learning plateaus
22:54 Bias pitfalls: the “ruler in skin-cancer photos” example and why explainability matters
25:23 Regulation and trust: high-risk uses and the demand for transparency
26:13 Connecting vision to action: from black-box outputs to robots with “vision in the loop”
27:41 Ensemble systems: language models coordinating other models (e.g., text-to-image)
29:03 True multimodality: training models jointly on text and images
30:17 AGI reflections: embodiment, experience, and the limits of data
32:44 Human vision vs. computer vision: depth of field, aperture, and why machines see everything in focus
34:40 Is progress slowing or steady? Research milestones versus quiet, continuous work
36:43 Public perception: many versions, but most still see “just ChatGPT”
37:41 Why the research pace feels natural — more people means faster progress
This podcast is produced by Montanus.
In this episode of Big Ideas Only, host Mikkel Svold explores how computers “see” with Andreas Møgelmose (Associate Professor of AI, Aalborg University; Visual Analysis & Perception Lab). We unpack what computer vision is, where it already works at scale, what’s still hard, and the real-world trade-offs around privacy and surveillance - from self-driving cars and robots to hospital X-rays and trash sorting.
In this episode, you’ll learn about:
1. What computer vision really is: turning camera input into understanding and action
2. When vision alone is enough, and when you need lidar, radar or time-of-flight sensors
3. The biggest driver: industrial automation
4. How automated triage of X-rays can cut ER waiting times with a doctor reviewing the final result
5. Why the classic “who should the car hit?” dilemma misses how real autonomy works
6. 3D understanding with stereo cameras and other depth-sensing methods
7. Why sorting messy, mixed real-world waste remains one of the hardest vision challenges
8. Humanoid robots — what already works and what’s still far from reality
9. Where research is headed: from fine-grained recognition to explainability and machine unlearning
10. On-device versus cloud processing, and how that choice shapes privacy risk
Episode Content
00:01 Why it matters that computers can “see”
02:04 When vision alone is enough — and when it isn’t
04:40 Healthcare in practice: automated X-ray checks for faster casts and shorter ER waits
05:39 Accuracy, human oversight, and how every case gets double-checked in morning rounds
07:20 The trolley-problem myth: how real autonomous systems minimize risk instead of choosing victims
12:32 Choosing the right approach: classification versus 3D navigation
13:36 Getting depth: stereo vision, lidar, radar, and time-of-flight sensors
16:01 Why sorting mixed, messy waste is still one of the hardest vision problems
18:03 Humanoid robots: balance, stairs, and why sight is the foundation for movement
19:21 Status check: “solved” in some areas, far from it in others
20:40 Privacy and ethics: on-device versus cloud processing, and who controls the data
27:37 What’s still missing: fine-grained recognition, explainability, and machine unlearning
32:28 Current projects: pre-anesthesia screening, color detection in video, and robust segmentation
33:32 Outro and teaser for a deeper theoretical dive next episode
This podcast is produced by Montanus.
3D printing isn’t just for fragile prototypes or weekend gadgets anymore.
In this episode of Big Ideas Only, host Mikkel Svold visits the Center for Industrial 3D Printing at the Danish Technological Institute (DTI) to explore how additive manufacturing is used in real production today.
The Guests of this episode Kristoffer Ryelund Nielsen (previously Head of Engineering) and Karl Frederik Fischer (PhD, Materials Science) will walk us through the machines, parts and business cases that make 3D printing a serious tool for industry.
In this episode, you’ll learn about:1. Why “additive manufacturing” is more than prototyping and where it shines in production.
2. Powder-based processes for plastics and metals
3. How the industries are adopting 3D printing today
4. The Concrete advantages in printing 3D
5. Real printing examples, such as rocket components.
6. Certifications and standards for medical and food-grade parts
7. How does the future look like with 3D Printing
Episode content
00:04 3D printing beyond the Wish-printer stereotype
01:58 “3D printing” vs “additive manufacturing” and why the term matters
02:45 From prototyping to full-scale production parts
06:37 When printing wins: faster lead times and optimized designs
16:57 The biggest opportunities haven't yet been discovered
18:02 Space example: consolidated rocket engines with fewer parts and better cooling
25:38 Enabling designs that were previously impossible
29:30 The future: mass customization and digital inventories
This podcast is produced by Montanus.
Fusion has long carried the reputation of being “30 years away”. Forever on the horizon but never quite arriving. That perception may finally be changing.
In this episode of Big Ideas Only, host Mikkel Svold is joined once again by Søren Bang-Korsholm, senior scientist at the Department of Physics at DTU. This time, the focus is on the practical future of fusion energy: what private companies are doing differently, how huge global projects like ITER fit into the picture, and what role fusion could play in the broader energy transition.
From billionaire-backed startups to the promise of grid-ready plants, Mikkel and Søren explore whether fusion can move beyond test facilities and become a true energy source for the 21st century.
In this episode, you'll learn about:
1. Why private investment is accelerating fusion research.
- The scale and goals of the ITER project—the world’s biggest science collaboration.
- How fusion could integrate into existing grids and even replace coal plants directly.
- The role of fusion as a clean, reliable base load alongside renewables.
- Potential use cases beyond electricity, including hydrogen production and desalination.
- The biggest technical hurdles still standing in the way.
- Why fusion’s commercialization might be closer than we think.
Episode content:
01:11 Why the “30 years away” joke may be outdated
05:14 Fusion’s role in the global energy transition
09:13 ITER: the world’s largest fusion project explained
12:27 Timelines: demonstration reactors in the 2030s
13:22 How fusion could plug straight into existing grids
18:25 What still needs solving before commercialization
30:16 Safety, waste, and why fusion differs from fission
31:50 The need for public-private collaboration in energy
34:17 How fusion could change daily life and global development
This podcast is produced by Montanus.
In this episode—which is also going to be the last episode of this season—we'll try to understand artificial intelligence, or AI. I want to know what we can expect from AI, why we should care, and why it’s a big idea.
Now, to understand the intricacies of artificial intelligence and where it’s going, I’ve once again invited the very knowledgeable Thomas Schmidt into the studio.
Thomas is the founder and Managing Director of Schmidt Innovation, an engineering company specialised in automation, mathematical modelling, software architecture, and of course, innovation.
Producing this podcast is Montanus – a company where we specialize in producing high quality content for marketing department in engineering and knowledge driven companies.
Learn more about Montanus here: www.montanus.co
Find the Shownotes here: www.montanus.co/bigideasonly/
In this episode, we’ll try to understand nuclear power, why it’s complex, and why it’s worth knowing something about. It’s gonna be super exciting!
To understand the intricacies of nuclear power, its history, and where it’s going, we've invited the very knowledgeable Thomas Schmidt into the studio.
Thomas is the founder and Managing Director of Schmidt Innovation, an engineering company specialised in automation, mathematical modelling, software architecture, AI, and, of course, innovation.
Notably, Thomas has a Masters’ degree in energy engineering with a specialisation in mechatronics control. What this means is that Thomas has broad knowledge across mechanics, electronics, programming, and product development.
Behind this podcast is Montanus – a company where we specialize in producing high quality content for marketing department in engineering and knowledge driven companies. Find out more about Montanus at www.montanus.co.
Also, check out the shownotes at www.montanus.co/bigideasonly/
Today’s episode is a continuation of the last episode focusing on the world of virtual and augmented reality. However, in today’s talk we will dive into the possibilities augmented and virtual reality holds alongside all its shortcomings in today’s day and age. Because is virtual reality becoming as mainstream as one might believe?
To enlighten us on the topic, the founders and partners of the VR and AR studio PieLab;
Tomas Utaravičius and Filip Aničić have come to our rescue.
Your host is Mikkel Svold, CEO of Montanus, who will guide you through this interesting topic.
Find out more about PieLab here: https://pielab.dk
This podcast is produced by Montanus, https://montanus.co
In today’s episode we'll focus on the funky world of virtual and augmented reality. Is it fad or the future? And if the latter, in what ways are we going to use it?
To explain these futuristic phenomena, the founders and partners of the VR and AR studio PieLab; Tomas Utaravičius and Filip Aničić have come to our rescue.
Your host is Mikkel Svold, CEO of Montanus, who will guide you through this interesting topic.
Check out PieLab here: http://pielab.dk
This podcast is produced by Montanus, https://montanus.co
In today’s episode we will look at Web3. What is it and how is it different from web1 and web2?
These questions and more will be answered by our guest is Rasmus Risager Lindegaard, product manager at the Grow Colony at Lunar bank. Rasmus will explain this interesting new phenomenon, while covering what decentralized finance is and its connection to web3.
Your host is Mikkel Svold, CEO of Montanus, who will guide you through this interesting topic.
This podcast is produced by Montanus. http://www.montanus.co
In today’s episode we will look at cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ether. What are they, how are they different from each other, and why is it important to know about?
Our guest is Rasmus Risager Lindegaard, product manager at the Grow Colony at Lunar bank. Rasmus is specialized in anything that can make money grow in value, and therefore, Rasmus is also an expert in understanding the value cryptocurrencies hold.
Your host is Mikkel Svold, CEO of Montanus, who will guide you through this interesting topic.
This podcast is produced by Montanus. http://www.montanus.co
Is the future of food plant-based?
Today’s episode is a continuation of episode 7, where we once again will look at solutions for continuing to feed the worlds’ rising population, but more specifically a look at our future diets.
Our guest is Lars Horsholt Jensen, Chief Operating Officer at Food & Bio Cluster in Denmark. Food & Bio Cluster is a cluster gathering all the food and bio resources in Denmark into one network, driving to support company innovation. Lars will guide us through what the future of food looks like touching upon the topics plant-based, reactive, and genetically modified foods.
Your host is Mikkel Svold, CEO of Montanus, who will guide you through this interesting topic.
This podcast is produced by Montanus. http://www.montanus.co
Are we facing a second agriculture revolution?
In this episode of Big Ideas Only we will look at solutions for continuing to feed the worlds’ rising population.
Today, our guest is Lars Horsholt Jensen, Chief Operating Officer at Food & Bio Cluster in Denmark. Food & Bio Cluster is a cluster gathering all the food and bio resources in Denmark into one network, driving to support company innovation. Lars will guide us through innovative ways to create more food and explain why the solution is not to maximize farmland yields.
Your host is Mikkel Svold, CEO of Montanus, who will guide you through this interesting topic.
This podcast is produced by Montanus. http://www.montanus.co
In this episode of Big Ideas Only, we’ll look at the tools that allow us to explore the Universe. As well as talking about Telescopes, Satellites, and probes we’ll try to understand what it is these tools can tell us about our past and future.
Today, our guest is Mads Fredslund Andersen, Telescope and Satellite Manager at Aarhus University, and he’ll answer all our burning questions.
Your host is Mikkel Svold, CEO of Montanus, who will guide you through this interesting topic.
This podcast is produced by Montanus.
In this episode of Big Ideas Only, we explore The Solar System and everything within. We’ll unravel why understanding the Solar System will give us insights into the rest of the Universe, and ask question like: Is the space in our Solar System like space many lightyears away?
Today’s guest is Mads Fredslund Andersen, Telescope and Satellite Manager at Aarhus University with plenty of expertise to help us change questions mark into exclamations marks!
As always, your host is Mikkel Svold, CEO of Montanus, and he couldn’t be more excited to go on this journey with you.
This podcast is produced by Montanus.
In this episode of Big Ideas Only, we discuss the topic of black holes, white holes, and wormholes: What are they and why are they so interesting to look at.
Today, our guest is Ole Eggers Bjælde, an astrophysicist at Aarhus University. He’ll explain what black holes are, how they work, and what would happen if you get sucked into one.
Your host is Mikkel Svold, CEO of Montanus.
This podcast is produced by Montanus, https://montanus.co
In this second episode of Big Ideas Only, we’ll learn more about the Sun; How does it affect life on Earth, and can we use that to our advantage when it comes to climate change?
Today, our guest is Christoffer Karoff, associate professor of astronomy, physics, and geoscience at Aarhus University in Denmark. He will talk about everything from sunspots to how we can cool down Earth by limiting the amount of sunlight that reaches the Earth.
Your host is Mikkel Svold, CEO of Montanus, who will guide you through this interesting topic of Understanding the Sun.
This podcast is produced by Montanus.
Shownotes at: https://montanus.co/bigideas/
In this very first episode of Big Ideas Only, we’ll explore the topic of life in space: What it is, where we are looking, and how we hope to find it.
Today, our guest is Kai Finster, professor of Astrobiology at Aarhus University. He’ll touch on everything from why we are looking for exoplanets to what the habitable zone is and why life in space will (most likely) be unicellular.
Your host is Mikkel Svold, CEO of Montanus, who will guide you through this interesting topic of Life in Space.
This podcast is produced by Montanus: https://montanus.co/bigideas/
Big Ideas Only is a podcast created for curious minds who want to learn about the ideas that shape the world.
Listening to Big Ideas Only, you’ll get knowledge about different scientific topics, making you one step closer to understand all the things that surround you in daily life in the 21st century.
The podcast was created to satisfy our curiosity and desire to learn from experts. Therefore, we have invited professors and scientists to explain their field of interest.
Big Ideas Only aims at being your bi-monthly knowledge fix, and each season will deal with a new and interesting scientific topic.
Your host is Mikkel Svold, CEO of Montanus, who will guide you through each episode.
This podcast is produced by Montanus: https://montanus.co