In this episode of Micro Journeys, host Daniel Marrujo takes listeners on a rare, behind-the-scenes journey inside Brookhaven National Laboratory, a 5,300-acre federal research facility located in Suffolk County, Long Island, New York. Joined by Daniel Marx, Accelerator Physicist, and Alex Jentsch, Associate Staff Scientist, Daniel steps inside one of the most secured and scientifically significant facilities in the United States. From navigating multiple layers of security and suiting up in full construction gear, to walking the tunnels of a machine that has operated for 25 years, this episode immerses listeners in the sights, sounds, and scale of cutting-edge nuclear physics research happening right now on American soil.

At the heart of this episode is one of the most profound open questions in all of science: what actually makes up a proton? Despite decades of research, scientists can only account for roughly 1% of the proton’s total mass through the quarks that compose it. The remaining 99% — driven by the dynamic interactions between quarks and gluons — remains one of the great unsolved mysteries of modern physics. To answer it, Brookhaven is in the middle of a decade-long transformation, converting its existing Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider into the Electron Ion Collider (EIC) , a first-of-its-kind machine designed to take three-dimensional snapshots of the internal structure of protons and atomic nuclei.

The EIC represents the answer — a facility built with unprecedented flexibility, precision down to tens of microns, a detector the size of a three-story building, and the integration of artificial intelligence through Project Genesis to accelerate data analysis and protect the machine, bringing humanity closer to understanding the fundamental building blocks of all matter.

In this episode of Micro Journeys, host Daniel Marrujo takes listeners on a rare, behind-the-scenes journey inside Brookhaven National Laboratory, a 5,300-acre federal research facility located in Suffolk County, Long Island, New York. Joined by Daniel Marx, Accelerator Physicist, and Alex Jentsch, Associate Staff Scientist, Daniel steps inside one of the most secured and scientifically significant facilities in the United States. From navigating multiple layers of security and suiting up in full construction gear, to walking the tunnels of a machine that has operated for 25 years, this episode immerses listeners in the sights, sounds, and scale of cutting-edge nuclear physics research happening right now on American soil.

At the heart of this episode is one of the most profound open questions in all of science: what actually makes up a proton? Despite decades of research, scientists can only account for roughly 1% of the proton’s total mass through the quarks that compose it. The remaining 99% — driven by the dynamic interactions between quarks and gluons — remains one of the great unsolved mysteries of modern physics. To answer it, Brookhaven is in the middle of a decade-long transformation, converting its existing Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider into the Electron Ion Collider (EIC) , a first-of-its-kind machine designed to take three-dimensional snapshots of the internal structure of protons and atomic nuclei.

The EIC represents the answer — a facility built with unprecedented flexibility, precision down to tens of microns, a detector the size of a three-story building, and the integration of artificial intelligence through Project Genesis to accelerate data analysis and protect the machine, bringing humanity closer to understanding the fundamental building blocks of all matter.

In this episode of Micro Journeys: Inside Access, host Daniel Marrujo travels to Tantan, Morocco, embedded alongside the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team at African Lion — one of the largest multinational military exercises in the world. Daniel sits down with Captain Vincent Gasparri, a West Point-trained nuclear engineer who leads the Bayonet Innovation Team, a unit dedicated full-time to integrating commercial technology into one of the US Army’s most forward-deployed brigades. From FPV drone strikes to autonomous ground vehicles operating in real time across the Sahara Desert, this episode pulls back the curtain on what the future of warfare actually looks like when it leaves the lab and hits the field.

War is changing — and the data coming out of the Russo-Ukrainian conflict is accelerating that change faster than most people realize. The proliferation of small unmanned systems, the integration of artificial intelligence, and the demand for faster commander decision-making are no longer theoretical challenges being studied in laboratories. They are problems being solved in the field, in the heat, in the dust, and under pressure. Captain Gasparri and his team of seven are at the center of that effort, stress-testing commercial technology in austere environments and iterating in real time to ensure soldiers will actually use what they are given.

The solution is not about replacing the soldier — it is about empowering the soldier, keeping humans firmly in the loop, and building systems that serve the formation rather than the other way around.

In this episode of Micro Journeys, host Daniel Marrujo sits down with two of the most quietly consequential figures in U.S. military operations in Africa — Lieutenant Colonel Kyle Thomason, Provost Marshal for the Southern European Task Force Africa, and Lydia Benyam, Lab Manager for the Joint Theater Forensic Analysis Center, or JTFAC, located at Camp Lemonnier in Djibouti. Recorded live at the African Land Forces Summit, the conversation pulls back the curtain on a capability most people never knew existed: a small, internationally accredited forensics lab operating in East Africa that is turning physical evidence from some of the world’s most dangerous environments into actionable military intelligence, successful criminal prosecutions, and tools for regional security across an entire continent.

Most people picture forensics through the lens of a television crime drama — DNA swabs, fingerprints, a lab in a major U.S. city. The reality of what Thomason and Biniam’s team does is far broader and far more consequential. Operating across two core categories — the who and the what — the JTFAC handles everything from DNA identification and latent prints to firearms analysis, serial number restoration, chemical detection of explosives and drugs, and full electronic data extraction and reverse engineering. In a region where bad actors are constantly evolving their tactics, techniques, and procedures, the pressure on this team to stay ahead of the threat, while producing evidence that holds up in international courts of law, is constant and unrelenting.

Benyam and Thomason explain how a combination of rigorous science, cross-agency collaboration, and emerging AI technology is allowing their lab to do exactly that — not only keeping pace with a changing threat landscape, but expanding its reach to partner nations across Africa and beyond.

In this episode of Micro Journeys, host Daniel Marrujo sits down with Barry Broome, CEO of the Greater Sacramento Economic Council (GSEC), for a wide-ranging conversation that traces one of the most unlikely and compelling careers in American economic leadership. From a blue-collar upbringing in Ohio shaped by Marine veterans, Irish immigrant values, and a deep sense of civic duty, to running gang intervention programs in Cleveland’s most underserved neighborhoods, Barry’s path to the top of regional economic development was anything but conventional. What emerges is a portrait of a leader forged not in boardrooms, but in the foxholes of broken cities and forgotten communities.

Long before Barry became the architect of Sacramento’s semiconductor future, he was navigating the wreckage of the American Rust Belt — watching cities like Cleveland lose tens of thousands of jobs in a single week, witnessing real estate rendered worthless by industrial pollution, and choosing to walk away from a $100,000 corporate offer to keep working for $18,000 a year in the inner city. That decision, and the values behind it, set the trajectory for everything that followed — from leading economic councils in Michigan and Phoenix to ultimately landing in Sacramento, where he has spent eleven years transforming a government town into one of the most dynamic regional economies in the United States.

Barry Broome’s answer to collapse has always been the same: simplicity, resiliency, and the relentless pursuit of trust — building coalitions across universities, energy companies, government, and industry until an entire community moves as a single unit toward a shared economic vision.

Daniel Marrujo sits down with Lokesh Sikaria, Managing Partner at Moneta Ventures, to unpack the intersection of technology, business, and venture capital. From his early days growing up in India to studying at UC Berkeley and rising through the ranks of consulting and executive leadership, Lokesh shares how his journey shaped a unique perspective: technology alone is never enough. The conversation explores how real success comes from pairing innovation with strong business fundamentals, and how venture capital acts as a catalyst to transform promising ideas into scalable companies.

The discussion dives deeper into the mechanics of venture capital, breaking down how startups move from early funding stages to large-scale growth. Lokesh explains what makes a company “VC fundable,” why most startups never receive funding, and how founders should approach rejection. He highlights the importance of growth trajectory, founder commitment, and the role of venture partners in guiding companies beyond just providing capital. The episode also explores Moneta Ventures’ strategy, emphasizing regional ecosystems, hands-on support, and the power of networks in accelerating success.

At its core, the episode reveals that building a successful company isn’t just about having a great idea—it’s about execution, resilience, and finding the right partners who can help turn vision into reality.

In this episode of Micro Journeys, host Daniel Marrujo sits down with Rehan Kapadia to explore the intersection of imagination, engineering, and access in the world of microelectronics. From a childhood shaped by science fiction to a career at the forefront of semiconductor innovation, Kapadia shares how exponential technological growth is turning once-impossible ideas into reality. The conversation weaves through his academic journey, the evolution of computing, and the systems now enabling faster, more ambitious experimentation in hardware.

At the core of the discussion is a critical challenge: while ideas in technology are abundant, access to the tools required to test and build them remains a major bottleneck. Traditional semiconductor fabrication is prohibitively expensive and complex, limiting who can participate in innovation. Kapadia explains how this gap has historically constrained progress—and how new infrastructure, like Mosis 2.0, is working to democratize access by lowering costs, aggregating resources, and guiding innovators through the process from concept to prototype.

Ultimately, the solution lies in building ecosystems that reduce barriers and accelerate the journey from idea to hardware—making it faster, more accessible, and more scalable for innovators at every level.

From a childhood moment of curiosity that quite literally sparked with a jolt of electricity, Randy Sandhu’s journey into microelectronics unfolds as both deeply personal and globally significant. In this episode, he sits down with Daniel Marrujo to trace his path from a curious six-year-old tinkering with electronics to a leader shaping the future of semiconductor innovation at Northrop Grumman. Along the way, Randy shares how early hands-on experiences, academic exploration at UCLA, and a willingness to embrace uncertainty helped guide him toward breakthroughs in high-speed electronics and advanced materials.

The conversation expands beyond personal journey into the evolving landscape of microelectronics, where speed, collaboration, and national security intersect. Randy offers a behind-the-scenes look at the Microelectronics Commons initiative, highlighting how traditional silos between academia, industry, and government are being dismantled to accelerate innovation. With global supply chains under strain and increasing geopolitical pressures, the urgency to onshore critical capabilities and rethink how technology is developed has never been greater. The episode reveals both the challenges and opportunities in building a resilient, future-ready ecosystem.

At its core, the solution lies in rethinking collaboration—bringing together the best minds, breaking down barriers, and accelerating innovation cycles to meet real-world demands faster than ever before.

In this episode of Micro Journeys, host Daniel Marrujo sits down with Nicholas Fahrenkopf at GOMAC Tech to explore the cutting edge of microelectronics, from nanotechnology and silicon photonics to quantum systems. Fahrenkopf shares his unconventional journey into the field—sparked by a fascination with nanobots and inspired by Richard Feynman—and unpacks how today’s semiconductor innovations are pushing beyond traditional limits. The conversation spans the intersection of electronics and biology, the evolution of advanced manufacturing ecosystems in New York, and the real-world applications shaping industries from healthcare to defense.

Diving deeper, the episode highlights a central tension in modern technology: innovation is accelerating faster than our ability to fully understand or apply it. Fahrenkopf explains how breakthroughs like neuromorphic computing, silicon photonics, and quantum systems are opening entirely new frontiers—yet remain underexplored. From implantable biomedical devices to light-based chips and quantum sensors that can operate without GPS, the discussion underscores both the immense potential and the complexity of these technologies. At the heart of it all is the challenge of translating early-stage innovation into scalable, real-world impact.

To bridge this gap, Fahrenkopf emphasizes the role of collaborative ecosystems like the Northeast Regional Defense Technology Hub (NORDTECH), one of the Microelectronics Commons hubs led by NY Creates with Cornell University, RPI, IBM, and the University at Albany, which brings together academia, industry, and government to solve hard problems, mature technologies, and accelerate deployment.

In this episode of Micro Journeys, host Daniel Marrujo sits down with Dr. Whitney Mason of DARPA to explore how breakthrough technologies are born at the edge of what’s considered possible. From her early curiosity as a physicist in Oklahoma to leading ambitious programs in DARPA’s Microsystems Technology Office (MTO), Mason shares the journey that led her to work on some of the most challenging problems in national security and advanced technology. The conversation explores DARPA’s role in pushing the boundaries of innovation—tackling problems that are often decades ahead of current needs.

Dr. Mason explains how DARPA differs from traditional research environments by intentionally pursuing “eye-wateringly hard” problems. Rather than focusing on incremental improvements, DARPA seeks paradigm shifts—from event-based sensors and mixed-material microelectronics to quantum benchmarking initiatives. The discussion highlights how the United States must rethink its technological strategy in a world where global competitors are investing heavily in advanced computing, materials science, and microelectronics.

Ultimately, Mason argues that the path forward requires bold thinking and a willingness to take risks on ideas that may fail. By exploring unconventional approaches and empowering visionary program managers, DARPA aims to seed the next generation of technologies that could redefine computing, sensing, and national security.

Ethan Sabin, an accomplished U.S. Air Force fighter pilot and leader, joins Daniel Marrujo to share a gripping journey from childhood inspiration to high-stakes combat operations. From watching fighter pilot movies as a kid to flying the A-10 Warthog in Afghanistan, Sabin walks through the defining moments that shaped his career. The episode captures the intensity of close air support missions, the weight of life-or-death decisions, and the discipline required to operate in some of the most dangerous environments on Earth. His stories bring listeners directly into the cockpit, where training, trust, and teamwork determine survival.

The conversation dives deeper into the mindset behind elite military performance, revealing that success in combat is not about rising to the occasion, but falling back on rigorous training. Sabin recounts a harrowing mission where friendly forces were pinned down just meters from enemy fire, emphasizing the precision and composure required under extreme pressure. Beyond combat, the discussion explores the unique culture of fighter squadrons, where mentorship, humility, and accountability are forged through shared experiences. It also highlights the evolution of modern air combat, including Sabin’s work with the F-35 and the growing importance of integrating advanced technologies with human decision-making.

Ultimately, Sabin underscores that while technology continues to evolve, the true strength of the Air Force lies in its people. Training, trust, and teamwork remain the foundation for mission success—both in combat and in life.

In this episode of TSS Podcast: Micro Journeys, host Daniel Marrujo sits down with Corrine Kramer to explore the intersection of national security, data architecture, and technological transformation. From her academic roots in physics and astronomy to her work across the defense ecosystem — including IDA, the Congressional Budget Office, and now Palantir — Kramer shares a journey shaped by one central question: how do we make better decisions with the data we already have? The conversation spans intelligence failures, battlefield operations, semiconductor supply chains, and the structural inefficiencies that still define large parts of government.

At the heart of the discussion is a powerful tension: the United States does not suffer from a lack of information — it suffers from fragmentation. Kramer explains how Palantir emerged from the post-9/11 realization that agencies possessed the intelligence needed to prevent catastrophe but lacked the connective infrastructure to act. Whether in combatant commands, acquisition offices, shipbuilding, or microelectronics ecosystems, the core challenge remains the same — disconnected systems, manual processes, and institutional inertia. The episode dives into how data layering, ontologies, AI integration, and forward-deployed engineering are reshaping how operators, analysts, and decision-makers interact with complex environments in real time.

The solution, as Kramer frames it, is not simply better dashboards — it is living systems. When data is unified, trusted, and continuously updated, decision-makers move from reactive to proactive. The future belongs to organizations willing to evolve beyond static reports and PowerPoint into dynamic, interoperable knowledge infrastructure.