logo
episode-header-image
Jul 2024
57m 16s

From the Vault: The Machine Speaks

iHeartPodcasts
About this episode

Long before such things were possible, our ancestors envisioned artificial heads that were capable of speech. In this classic episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe discuss the journey from ancient tales of artifice and wizardry to the early breakthroughs in speech synthesis technology. (originally published 06/29/2023)

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Up next
Yesterday
From the Vault: Vintage Egyptology, with Colleen Darnell
In this classic episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert chats with Egyptologist, author and educator Colleen Darnell about ancient Egyptian religion, warfare and of course vintage fashion. (originallt published 7/31/2025)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. 
41m 30s
Jul 17
Weirdhouse Cinema: Witchfinder General
In this episode of Weirdhouse Cinema, Rob and Joe discuss the 1968 film “Witchfinder General,” directed by Michael Reeves and starring Vincent Price, often held up as a pivotal English folk horror entry, alongside 71’s “The Blood on Satan’s Claw” and 73’s “The Wickerman.”See omny ... Show More
1h 18m
Jul 16
Dog Days and Death Stars, Part 2
In this series from Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe discuss the dog days of summer, their connection to a luminous star in the night’s sky and various ideas linking the summer’s hottest days to human and animal behavior.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. 
57m 35s
Recommended Episodes
Apr 2021
In Machines We Trust: AI finds its voice
Synthetic voice technologies are increasingly passing as human. But today’s voice assistants are still a far cry from the hyper-intelligent thinking machines we’ve been musing about for decades. In this episode, we explore how machines learn to communicate—and what it means for t ... Show More
28m 37s
Oct 2022
In Machines We Trust: AI finds its voice
Synthetic voice technologies are increasingly passing as human. But today’s voice assistants are still a far cry from the hyper-intelligent thinking machines we’ve been musing about for decades. In this episode, we explore how machines learn to communicate—and what it means for t ... Show More
28m 5s
May 2018
SYMHC Classics: Five Historical Robots
Today we revisit an episode on the technology of yesteryear. Long before Czech playwright Karel Capek coined the term "robot" in his 1920 play "R.U.R.," mechanized creations - automata - were being created without electronics or computers. Many were simple, but they paved the way ... Show More
22m 33s
Feb 2023
Mechanical Mind
Today's tour features some amazing inventions that might have been a heavy lift, but we've been writing about them ever since.Join our Patreon for ad-free episodes!: https://www.patreon.com/grimandmildSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. 
10m 49s
Mar 2025
Good Robot #1: The magic intelligence in the sky
Before AI became a mainstream obsession, one thinker sounded the alarm about its catastrophic potential. So why are so many billionaires and tech leaders worried about… paper clips? This is the first episode of our new four-part series about the stories shaping the future of AI. ... Show More
49m 41s
Jan 2019
The Death Ray, Part 1
From ancient myth and the inventions of Archimedes to the work of Tesla and countless sci-fi authors, the concept of a death ray is a powerful expression of technological might. But here’s the catch: they don’t quite exist. Join Robert Lamb and Joe McCormick as they explore the v ... Show More
1h 18m
May 2025
The Echo in the Machine
<p>Today you can convert speech to text with the click of a button. Youtube does it for all our videos. Our phones will do it in real time. It’s frictionless. And yet, if it weren’t for an unlikely crew of protesters and office workers, it might still be impossible. </p><p>This w ... Show More
32m 42s
Aug 2019
Bubble Wrap
Don’t take bubble wrap for granted! Someone had to invent it and you might be surprised to learn where it came from. In this episode of Invention, Robert and Joe discuss the history and future of packing material. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwo ... Show More
47m 34s
Jul 2009
Computers from the Past
<p>Now that they've covered the future of computing, the TechStuff guys are ready to tackle computers of the past. Tune in as they explore the origins of computational devices, from the abacus to punch-card computers, in this podcast from HowStuffWorks.com.</p><p> </p> Learn more ... Show More
33m 31s
Jun 2020
A Kazoo And The Evolution Of Speech
Encore episode. Researchers discovered that this simple instrument could offer insights into the evolution of human speech. Short Wave reporter Emily Kwong talks with primatologist Adriano Lameira about a growing body of evidence that humans may not be the only great apes with vo ... Show More
12m 40s