Impact Quantum: A Podcast for the Quantum Curious

In this conversation, hosts Frank La Vigne and Candace Gillhoolley sit down with Helena Bahrami, a trailblazing AI and machine learning expert, entrepreneur, and quantum enthusiast currently based in Auckland, New Zealand. Together, they explore the transformative intersection of quantum computing, artificial intelligence, and neuroscience, uncovering how these fields are converging to tackle some of medicine’s toughest challenges—like accelerating drug discovery and finding solutions for neurodegenerative diseases.Helena Bahrami shares her unique journey from an early fascination with quantum physics to pioneering research at the crossroads of brains, algorithms, and quantum circuits. The conversation also dive...

In this episode, Frank and Candace speak with guest Samuel Hagh Shenas and they dive deep into the world of quantum research. Samuel Haag-Shinass is a PhD student at Oxford specializing in quantum information theory and quantum computation. Together, they explore the emerging intersections between quantum computing, artificial intelligence, and biological systems, discussing everything from quantum startups and incubators to the challenges of experimentally verifying quantum phenomena in biology.The conversation covers the excitement and shifts happening in academia as quantum computing transitions from a purely theoretical discipline to a field with real-world applications. Samuel...

In this episode, host Frank La Vigne and co-host Candice Gillhoolley sit down with Danny Wall, the founder, CEO, and CTO of OA Quantum Labs, for an in-depth conversation about the real-world intersection of quantum computing and artificial intelligence.You'll hear Danny Wall pull the curtain back on how OA Quantum Labs is pushing quantum solutions beyond the research phase and into commercially viable applications. From accelerating AI training and inference to spinning out novel materials at lightning speed, Danny shares firsthand stories about quantum-enhanced breakthroughs in material science, finance, and more.This episode dives...

In this episode, your hosts Frank La Vigne and Candace Gillhoolley dive deep into the rapidly evolving quantum tech landscape of Latin America, with a special spotlight on Argentina. Joined by Daniel Ruiz, founder of QNOW, the conversation explores why Argentina and the broader LATAM region are emerging as surprising global leaders in quantum research, development, and application—particularly in the financial and healthcare sectors.Daniel Ruiz shares insight into the unique challenges and opportunities for quantum startups in Argentina, from the abundance of technical talent to the barriers around funding, infrastructure, and brain drain. The discussion to...

In this exceptional episode, we dive deep into the intersection of science and creativity as Wiktor Mazin showcases how quantum fractal art can help us visualize the abstract phenomena of quantum mechanics. You'll hear how fractal mathematics and quantum state vectors come together to create mesmerizing patterns, making the invisible beauty of quantum physics tangible and relatable.From snowy Baltimore anecdotes to discussions about coastlines and Romanesco broccoli, the team explores how fractals—both in nature and mathematics—reflect the underlying complexity and elegance of the quantum world. We also see how quantum-generated randomness can influence color choi...

Today, we dive into the fascinating intersection of design and quantum computing. Our guest, Klem Jankiewicz, Head of Design at Classiq—a leading quantum software company—joins Candace Gillhoolley and Frank La Vigne to explore how creative minds like designers, marketers, and educators are becoming essential players in the quantum ecosystem.You'll hear Klem Jankiewicz share her journey from industrial design to quantum labs, discuss the importance of intuitive user interfaces, and reveal how visual tools are opening up quantum technology to more people than ever before. She explains why designing for quantum is unlike anything else—there’...

In this episode, hosts Frank La Vigne, Candace Gillhoolley, and Ska Guy dive deep into the rapidly evolving world of quantum computing and security with special guest Adam Firestone, CEO and co-founder of Sixera. Adam Firestone breaks down how quantum computing isn’t just changing security—it’s completely upending it, exposing vulnerabilities that many organizations overlook.We explore the pressing threats posed by quantum computing, including the "harvest now, decrypt later" phenomenon that’s challenging industries to rethink how they protect sensitive information. Adam Firestone walks us through Sixera’s approach to solving the quantum architecture problem, b...

In this episode, hosts Frank La Vigne and Candace Gillhoolley sit down with Adhisha Gammanpila, founder and CEO of Feynman—an innovative company making quantum computing accessible for everyone, no PhD required. Together, they dive into the rapidly evolving quantum landscape, discussing how AI-driven copilots are transforming protein simulation, climate modeling, and drug discovery—tasks that used to take months and now can be accomplished in minutes.Adhisha Gammanpila shares his journey from university research to launching a platform that abstracts away the complexities of quantum gates, letting scientists focus on their real-world problems instead of getting caug...

Today, host Frank La Vigne and guest Candice Gillhoolley dive deep into IonQ’s headline-making billion-dollar acquisitions that are reshaping the quantum landscape. From hardware with Skywater, to quantum networking through Skyloom Global, and even AI-driven software via Seed Innovations, IonQ is assembling a complete quantum ecosystem—building the supply chain of the future, right here and now.The conversation unpacks the big money flowing into quantum tech, why in-house chip fabrication matters in a world grappling with supply chain vulnerabilities, and what these moves mean for the industry’s evolution. With insights on stock market reactions, defens...

In this enlightening episode, hosts Frank La Vigne and Candace Gillhoolley are joined by Benita Zazueta, a leader in quantum-safe initiatives at IBM and a doctoral candidate exploring the intersection of quantum risk and supply chain resilience.Together, the team tackles the looming threat posed by fault tolerant quantum computers—those machines capable of cracking today's encryption and altering the balance of cybersecurity. Benita Zazueta breaks down complex concepts like “harvest now, decrypt later,” and explains how business leaders, not just researchers and engineers, must prepare for a quantum future. The conversation covers practical strategies for organizations to ass...

In this episode, hosts Frank La Vigne and Candace Gillhoolley sit down with James Davies, founder of Embedded Electronics Recruitment Solutions, a specialist in quantum technology recruitment. Together, they explore how quantum is making its way out of the lab and into the real world, and discuss the challenges and opportunities facing companies as they race to hire quantum specialists and consultants.From quantum’s role in defense and communications, to the innovations happening in sensing and computing, James Davies shares his insights on current hiring trends and how the talent landscape is shifting as quantum startups ac...

In this episode, Frank La Vigne and Candice Gillhoolley are joined by Geoff Anders, CEO of Leverage and co-founder of the Quantum Biology DAO, to explore how quantum physics is rewriting what we know about everything from photosynthesis to animal migration, and even human health. From the way birds might sense the Earth’s magnetic field, to the evolving research around how weak magnetic effects could impact growth and development, we’ll unpack real-world experiments and the fascinating theories behind them.But it’s not just about the science—the conversation also tackles how scientific funding...

In this episode, Frank La Vigne and Candice Gillhoolley are diving into what’s actually working—and what’s just hype—in the world of quantum computing. Today, they’re joined by Abhigyan Mishra, Quantum Director and co-founder of Rune Technology, for an enlightening conversation on real-world quantum advantage, especially in the finance sector.You’ll hear how Abhigyan Mishra and his team are merging AI with quantum approaches to tackle market intelligence in innovative ways, and why being “quantum-ready” might be more important than you think. He breaks down why quantum won’t solve every problem, how to spot when q...

Welcome to a special, festive edition of Impact Quantum! In this episode, Frank La Vigne and Candice Gillhoolley come together for a lively live-streamed conversation, celebrating the launch of the Impact Quantum Advent Calendar—a creative twist on the traditional highlights reel. Instead of the usual show format, the hosts highlight some of the most memorable moments from their groundbreaking third season, which saw both the podcast’s popularity and the quantum industry itself hit new highs.Tune in as Frank La Vigne and Candice Gillhoolley reflect on fascinating quantum developments from the past year, share behind-the-scenes stor...

In this episode, Frank La Vigne and Candace Gillhoolley are joined by Mahmoud Sabooni, lead quantum processor engineer at Open Quantum Design (OQD). Today’s conversation takes us to the snowy landscapes of Canada and deep into the heart of quantum hardware—specifically, the fascinating world of trapped ion systems.Mahmoud Sabooni shares insights from his experience in both academia and industry, explaining how OQD is pioneering open-source quantum hardware and what “full stack quantum computing” really means. The episode covers the differences between trapped ions and other quantum computing platforms, the challenges of scaling these systems, and how...

Welcome to a new episode of Impact Quantum! In today’s show, host Frank La Vigne and co-host Candice Gillhoolley dive deep into the fascinating world of quantum chemistry with special guest Natasa Nadoveza, who recently completed her PhD in this cutting-edge field. Together, they unpack what nuclear quantum dynamics is, explore its significance in understanding molecular processes, and discuss how quantum-level simulation could revolutionize industries ranging from medicine and drug discovery to energy and materials science.Throughout the conversation, you’ll hear about the very real challenges of translating theoretical breakthroughs into practical tools, especially when it c...

In today’s episode, hosts BAILeY, Frank La Vigne, and Candace Gillhoolley sit down with experimental quantum physicist Katanya Kuntz—a pioneering voice who’s bridging the gap between Earth and space through her work with the Quantum Encryption and Science Satellite (KEYSAT).Get ready to dive into the foundations of a quantum internet and learn how tomorrow’s secure communications might depend on orbiting lasers. We’ll unravel the challenges of sending quantum information across continents, explore the wild differences between classical and quantum tech, and ask why, perhaps, your own body is already home to quantum pr...

Welcome back to Impact Quantum—the show that proves you don’t need a PhD or a lab coat to dive into the world of quantum technology. In this episode, hosts BAILeY, Frank La Vigne, and Candace Gillhoolley are joined by returning guest Brian Lenahan, founder and chair of the Quantum Strategy Institute and prolific author on business adoption of quantum technologies.Together, they explore how quantum computing is reshaping business risk, the surge in national quantum strategies (especially in Canada), and what real quantum readiness looks like for enterprises today. Brian Lenahan shares practical ways organizations can...

Welcome to a special crossover episode of Impact Quantum, where we dive straight into the action from the floor of Nvidia GTC in Washington, D.C.! In this episode, hosts Frank La Vigne and Candace Gillhoolley take you behind the scenes of one of the tech world’s most exciting conferences—from AI-driven robots and GPU-powered supercomputers to a surprising amount of quantum computing buzz.Join us as Frank shares his firsthand experiences, including the latest hardware reveals, government involvement, unique swag, and even the cosplay antics of attendees impersonating Nvidia’s CEO. Candace and Frank also unpack...

Welcome to Impact Quantum, where curiosity meets real-world quantum insight! In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Bob Sutor—yes, the Bob Sutor—author of "Dancing with Qubits" and CEO of the Sutor Group Intelligence and Advisory. With decades of experience in computing, Bob brings a rare blend of wisdom, clarity, and wit to the conversation.Join us as we dive deep into the rapidly evolving quantum industry. We uncover why there are 85 quantum hardware companies (and why that number is likely to shrink), debate the eternal hype cycle versus real breakthroughs, and explore why quantum comp...