Quantum Foundations Podcast

What does quantum physics tell us about reality? What progress have we made since the days of Einstein and Schrödinger, and what problems are today’s quantum research scientists trying to solve? This podcast aims to share a modern perspective on the most fundamental aspects of quantum theory, informed by up-to-date research insights. In each episode, I interview an active researcher about a topic related to their work, with the discussion aimed to be broadly accessible.
What does quantum physics tell us about reality? What progress have we made since the days of Einstein and Schrödinger, and what problems are today’s quantum research scientists trying to solve? This podcast aims to share a modern perspective on the most fundamental aspects of quantum theory, informed by up-to-date research insights. In each episode, I interview an active researcher about a topic related to their work, with the discussion aimed to be broadly accessible.
Episodes
Episodes
Jan 28, 2025
Jan 28, 2025
1hr 41 min
In this episode of the Quantum Foundations Podcast, I'm joined by Professor Vlatko Vedral from the University of Oxford. We discuss modern and historic experimental proposals for testing quantum gravity. Get ready to dive deep into understanding what different proposals would *really* tell us about the nature of quantum gravity, and what problems we're up against to reconcile quantum mechanics and general relativity. All from the modern perspective of quantum information theory.
Nov 24, 2024
Nov 24, 2024
1hr 9 min
I interview Dr Andrea Di Biagio, who is a postdoctoral research fellow at IQOQI Vienna. We discuss Andrea's journey through interpretations of quantum theory, including QBism, Relational Quantum Mechanics, Everettian Quantum Theory and Wigner's friend. These topics have been subjects of Andrea's past and active research, including work with Prof. Carlo Rovelli.
Nov 24, 2024
Everettian Quantum Theory with Dr Sam Kuypers
Nov 24, 2024
Nov 24, 2024
2hr 18 min
I interview Dr Sam Kuypers, who is a postdoctoral research fellow at the Université de Montréal. We discuss the many-worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics, also known as Everettian quantum theory, which has been the subject of Sam's research including work together with Prof. David Deutsch.
Nov 24, 2024
Nov 24, 2024
1hr 20 min
I interview Dr Nick Ormrod, who recently completed his DPhil at the University of Oxford and is now a post-doctoral research fellow at the Perimeter Institute in Canada. We discuss the new interpretation of quantum theory that Nick has been working on during his DPhil, with Prof. Jonathan Barrett. The key idea is that reality emerges from causal structures.
Nov 24, 2024
Nov 24, 2024
2hr 1 min
Welcome to Episode 1 of my new Quantum Foundations podcast! I interview Dr Nicetu Tibau Vidal, a Research Fellow at the University of Hong Kong. We discuss locality in quantum physics, informed by Nicetu's PhD research at the University of Oxford and his ongoing work.
It is often stated that "if two particles are quantum entangled, doing something to one instantly influences a distant entangled particle." This statement is backed by Bell's Theorem, said to require sacrificing locality (distant particles can't instantly influence each other) or realism (our theories describe real aspects of the universe). In this podcast, Dr. Nicetu Tibau Vidal explains a third option: we can keep both locality and realism within standard quantum mechanics. However, we need to update our understanding of the physical properties of a particle that really exist — with important implications for the nature of reality.

Podcast Background
Hello! I am Dr Maria Violaris, the host of the Quantum Foundations Podcast. I recently completed my PhD in the foundations of quantum information at the University of Oxford, and I now do quantum computing research and content at Oxford Quantum Circuits. I enjoy day-to-day conversations that change my perspective on what our best theories tell us about reality. This podcast aims to share these conversations and up-to-date research insights more widely.
You can find the video version of this podcast on my YouTube channel, in addition to the accompanying series of "mathematical" podcast episodes that dive into technical detail.







