Innovating Neurosurgery: Dr. Kondziolka on Radiosurgery, Research & Brain Science

Innovating Neurosurgery: Dr. Kondziolka on Radiosurgery, Research & Brain Science

STEIN Fireside Podcast: S1-Ep11  In this episode of the STEIN Fireside Podcast, Dr. Kai Miller talks with Dr. Douglas Kondziolka, Editor-in-Chief of Neurosurgery and a global leader in radiosurgery while at the AANS 2026 conference in San Antonio. He shares insights on innovation, technology, and the evolution of neurosurgical care. From his early career in Toronto to pioneering work in radiosurgery and functional neurosurgery, Dr. Kondziolka discusses how challenging medical dogma, embracing new technologies, and sharing data openly have transformed patient care. The conversation explores: • The rise of radiosurgery and how it disrupted traditional brain surgery • Why innovation requires questioning “what we think we know” • The role of teamwork, publishing, and collaboration in scientific progress • Emerging technologies like focused ultrasound, gene therapy, and brain networks • The future of medical journals, digital content, and scientific communication This episode is a deep dive into how modern neurosurgery is evolving and what the next generation of innovation might look like.

STEIN Fireside Podcast: STEIN Event at the 2026 AANS Meeting, pt.1

In this special on-location episode, the Stein Fireside team takes listeners to the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) meeting in San Antonio, capturing the energy of a live “Stein evening” on the Riverwalk. Throughout the episode, leading neurosurgeons share insights into their work, innovations, and practical surgical tips. This episode blends clinical expertise, innovation, and behind-the-scenes conversations, giving viewers a snapshot of where neurosurgery is today—and where it’s headed next.

Modeling the Brain: Deep Brain Stimulation with Cameron McIntyre

In this episode of the STEIN Fireside Podcast, hosts Bryan Klassen and Kai Miller sit down with Dr. Cameron McIntyre, a pioneer in deep brain stimulation (DBS) modeling and neural engineering. Dr. McIntyre reflects on his path from fundamental electric field physics to becoming a leader in clinically relevant DBS modeling, including the development of patient‑specific stimulation models and the widely used concept of the Volume of Tissue Activated (VTA). He discusses the strengths—and limitations—of current clinical models, emphasizing why useful models don’t have to be perfect to meaningfully improve patient care. The conversation explores emerging frontiers in DBS, including: * Moving beyond simple stimulation volumes toward circuit‑ and pathway‑specific targeting * How temporal patterning, frequency, and stimulation trains may shape neural activity * The role of AI in navigating DBS’s massive parameter space * Bridging engineering rigor with real‑world clinical practice * Why understanding neural biophysics is essential for the next generation of neuromodulation The episode also offers a personal look at Dr. McIntyre’s career, mentoring philosophy, and life outside the lab—including his passion for auto racing—highlighting the human side of a scientist shaping the future of neuromodulation.

STEIN Fireside Podcast: General Principles Programming DBS Devices and Movement Disorder

Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) is far more than activating a wire in the brain—it’s a sophisticated, highly customizable therapy that relies on precise electrical modulation of neural tissue. In this in‑depth episode, Dr. Bryan Klassen breaks down exactly how DBS programming works, what clinicians are actually adjusting, and how modern technology is transforming neuromodulation. Whether you’re a neurosurgical trainee, practicing neurologist, biomedical engineer, or someone curious about brain‑implant technology, this talk offers a clear, structured walk‑through of the science and strategy behind DBS.

Waves of the Mind: Dr. Michael Breakspear on Brain Dynamics, Surfing & Science

In this episode of the STEIN Fireside Podcast, Dr. Kai Miller and Bryan Klassen sits down with world‑renowned neuroscientist, psychiatrist, mathematician — and lifelong surfer — Dr. Michael Breakspear. They dive into Breakspear’s unconventional path through math, medicine, physics, and psychiatry, and how those experiences shaped his groundbreaking work on neural field theory, brain oscillations, and large‑scale brain dynamics. From his early days programming on 1980s Mac computers to surfing the powerful reefs of Newcastle, Breakspear shares how curiosity, creativity, and lifestyle balance fuel his scientific thinking. You’ll hear discussion on: * How dynamical systems and wave equations reveal hidden structure in brain activity * Why large‑scale brain modes may explain attention, cognition, and consciousness * How hippocampal traveling waves shape memory, behavior, and epilepsy * What theory of mind, autism, and interoception might look like through a dynamical-systems lens * The parallels between neuroscience and AI, including latent manifolds and generative modeling * The importance of pure mathematics in modern science * The role of physical embodiment, stress regulation, and human connection in psychiatry Whether you’re into neuroscience, physics, AI, medicine, or just love a good story about surfing and science colliding, this episode is a deep, engaging ride through the brain’s most beautiful patterns.