The Debrief Weekly Report | A Science and Technology News Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Frankenstein's Electric Organism | Burnt Ancient Scrolls, Sleeping While Awake, and a Shocking New Organism Discovery Apr 29, 2025

Show notes

On this week's episode of The Debrief Weekly Report, Kenna, Steph and their producer Beemo, unravel ancient burnt scrolls, and explore how AI can be used to read them. They then zone out a bit and discuss a new study related to our brains and what is going on when we "blank." Finally, they get zapped by a new organism that can conduct electricity like a wire. Shocking! Every Tuesday, join hosts Stephanie Gerk, Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, and MJ Banias as they round up the latest science and tech stories from the pages of The Debrief. From far-future technology to space travel to strange physics that alters our perception of the universe, The Debrief Weekly Report is meant for the dreamers who love the science and technology of the future.

Follow the Debrief on X: https://twitter.com/Debriefmedia

Follow Stephanie Gerk on X: https://twitter.com/stephgerk

Follow Kenna Hughes-Castleberry on X: https://twitter.com/kennaculture

Have something to tell us? Email the show at weeklyreport@thedebrief.org

Lucy in the Sky with Asteroids | NASA's Trojan Flyby, Self-Healing Fungal Building Material, and Historical Colossal Squid Footage Apr 22, 2025

Show notes

On this week's episode of The Debrief Weekly Report, Kenna, Steph and their producer Beemo, look for Jupiter's Trojan asteroids with Lucy, NASA's far-out spacecraft. They then dive into a news story about a self-healing fungus that can be used as a building material, and then swim down into the depths to discuss the historic footage that captured our first glimpse of a colossal squid. Every Tuesday, join hosts Stephanie Gerk, Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, and MJ Banias as they round up the latest science and tech stories from the pages of The Debrief. From far-future technology to space travel to strange physics that alters our perception of the universe, The Debrief Weekly Report is meant for the dreamers who love the science and technology of the future.

Follow the Debrief on X: https://twitter.com/Debriefmedia

Follow Stephanie Gerk on X: https://twitter.com/stephgerk

Follow Kenna Hughes-Castleberry on X: https://twitter.com/kennaculture

Have something to tell us? Email the show at weeklyreport@thedebrief.org

"Psycho Salmon, Qu'est-ce que c'est?" | Pharmaceutical Water Pollution, 3D Interactive Holograms, and E-Taste Apr 15, 2025

Show notes

On this week's episode of The Debrief Weekly Report, Kenna and Steph, along with their feline producer, Beemo the Cat, run far far far far away from the "psycho salmon" that seem to be appearing due to pharmaceutical pollution in waterways. Next they play with some 3D holograms that have becoming interactive, and taste the latest research into 'digital flavour."

Every Tuesday, join hosts Stephanie Gerk, Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, and MJ Banias as they round up the latest science and tech stories from the pages of The Debrief. From far-future technology to space travel to strange physics that alters our perception of the universe, The Debrief Weekly Report is meant for the dreamers who love the science and technology of the future.

Follow the Debrief on X: https://twitter.com/Debriefmedia

Follow Stephanie Gerk on X: https://twitter.com/stephgerk

Follow Kenna Hughes-Castleberry on X: https://twitter.com/kennaculture

Have something to tell us? Email the show at weeklyreport@thedebrief.org

The Night is Dark and Full of Dire Wolves | De-extinction, AI, and Space Miso Apr 09, 2025

Show notes

On this week's episode of The Debrief Weekly Report, Kenna and Steph howl about dire wolves, de-extinction, and the recent news that the long lost species has just been brought back to life. They then talk artificial intelligence and their knack for humanlike bias. Lastly, they take a big bite out of space miso aboard the ISS.

Follow the Debrief on X: https://twitter.com/Debriefmedia

Follow Stephanie Gerk on X: https://twitter.com/stephgerk

Follow Kenna Hughes-Castleberry on X: https://twitter.com/kennaculture

Have something to tell us? Email the show at weeklyreport@thedebrief.org

Pew Pew Pew! | Lasers Transform Matter, Cannabis Catastrophe, and Transparent Wood Apr 01, 2025

Show notes

On this week's episode of The Debrief Weekly Report, Kenna and Steph talk a new development in laser technology, and how light may be able to transform matter. Next, they take a hit on some cannabis news and a recent finding that illegal pot contains some really nefarious chemicals. Lastly, they take a "voyage home" to find transparent wood?

Follow the Debrief on X: https://twitter.com/Debriefmedia

Follow Stephanie Gerk on X: https://twitter.com/stephgerk

Follow Kenna Hughes-Castleberry on X: https://twitter.com/kennaculture

Have something to tell us? Email the show at weeklyreport@thedebrief.org

Way Down We Go | Most Accurate Ocean Map Ever, Fighting Pain, and a Revolutionary Stroke Medicine Mar 25, 2025

Show notes

On this week's episode of The Debrief Weekly Report, Kenna and Steph dive deep into the darkness of the ocean with NASA and France's space agency to understand how they were able to build the tools to generate ocean floor maps with incredible accuracy and detail. They then play a few brain games a new study says we can use to master pain, and talk about a new drug that may have significant impact for healing those who have suffered from a stroke.

Follow the Debrief on X: https://twitter.com/Debriefmedia

Follow Stephanie Gerk on X: https://twitter.com/stephgerk

Follow Kenna Hughes-Castleberry on X: https://twitter.com/kennaculture

Have something to tell us? Email the show at weeklyreport@thedebrief.org

Can We 'Grow' Space Stations? | DARPA's Weird New Space Project, Mass Extinction, and How Sleep Impacts Beliefs Mar 18, 2025

Show notes

On this week's episode of The Debrief Weekly Report, Kenna and MJ chat about the subtle art of growing space structures with living organisms. They then chuck an asteroid at Earth to test the latest mass extinction findings, and then take a nap because lack of sleep is directly correlated to belief in conspiracies.

Follow the Debrief on X: https://twitter.com/Debriefmedia

Follow Stephanie Gerk on X: https://twitter.com/stephgerk

Follow Kenna Hughes-Castleberry on X: https://twitter.com/kennaculture

Have something to tell us? Email the show at weeklyreport@thedebrief.org

A Billion Year Old Life Giving Mystery | Ancient Impact Craters, Autonomous Farming, and Robotic Arms Mar 11, 2025

Show notes

On this week's episode of The Debrief Weekly Report, Kenna and Stephanie spelunk into a billion-year-old crater and discuss new theories regarding life on Earth. They then plow a quick news story regarding autonomous farming, and handle a great story about robotic arms being controlled by the mind.

Follow the Debrief on X: https://twitter.com/Debriefmedia

Follow Stephanie Gerk on X: https://twitter.com/stephgerk

Follow Kenna Hughes-Castleberry on X: https://twitter.com/kennaculture

Have something to tell us? Email the show at weeklyreport@thedebrief.org

When Brains Turn to Glass | Mount Vesuvius Remains, California's Bigfoot, and Lithium-Ion Recycling Mar 04, 2025

Show notes

On this week's episode of The Debrief Weekly Report, Kenna and Stephanie exercise their little grey cells as they turn to glass in the fires of Mount Vesuvius. They then go squatching in California to understand why the state wants to have an official cryptid. Lastly, they recharge on a new process to efficiently recycle lithium-ion batteries.

Follow the Debrief on X: https://twitter.com/Debriefmedia

Follow Stephanie Gerk on X: https://twitter.com/stephgerk

Follow Kenna Hughes-Castleberry on X: https://twitter.com/kennaculture

Have something to tell us? Email the show at weeklyreport@thedebrief.org

Hydrogen Mining the Misty Mountains | Embryonic Robots, "Smartphone Brain," and Mining Mountains Feb 25, 2025

Show notes

On this week's episode of The Debrief Weekly Report, Kenna and MJ climb to the mountain top and talk about mining hydrogen. They also get weird with shapeshifting embryonic robots, and then remember a time before smartphones made us dumb.

Follow the Debrief on X: https://twitter.com/Debriefmedia

Follow Stephanie Gerk on X: https://twitter.com/stephgerk

Follow Kenna Hughes-Castleberry on X: https://twitter.com/kennaculture

Have something to tell us? Email the show at weeklyreport@thedebrief.org