Quantum Foundations Podcast

Maria Violaris•mariaviolaris.podbean.com

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.

Last refreshed: December 8th, 2025 at 5:52 AM ⓘ

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Episodes

A quantum theory of time with Dr Simone Rijavec

What if time isn’t fundamental — but emerges from quantum mechanics itself? In this episode, Dr Simone Rijavec explains how a timeless quantum universe can still give rise to the illusion of time flowing. We unpack the Wheeler–DeWitt equation, the Page–Wootters model of relational time, and how these ideas connect to the multiverse and quantum gravity. Dr Rijavec is a postdoctoral researcher at Tel Aviv University and former PhD researcher at the University of Oxford.

Nov 19, 2025•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 8

Quantum Information meets Cosmology with Dr Aditya Iyer

From the Big Bang puzzles to testing if the early universe was quantum entangled — physicist Dr Aditya Iyer, from the University of Oxford, explains how quantum phenomena are key to understanding cosmology, gravity and even how it's possible we exist at all.

Jul 21, 2025•1 hr 41 min•Ep. 7

Constructor Theory of Information with Dr Chiara Marletto

What if we don't need quantum mechanics to express the key properties of quantum information? Join me for a deep-dive into the Constructor Theory of information with Dr Chiara Marletto, Research Fellow at the University of Oxford. Constructor Theory is a research programme proposed by Prof. David Deutsch in 2012, and further developed by Deutsch and Marletto, and collaborators, since then. The theory aims to unify various strands of physics, and solve open problems — and the key motivation and s...

Feb 05, 2025•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 6

Testing Quantum Gravity & Reality with Prof. Vlatko Vedral

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.

Jan 28, 2025•1 hr 42 min•Ep. 5

QBism, Relational QM & Wigner's Friend with Dr Andrea Di Biagio

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•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 4

Everettian Quantum Theory with Dr Sam Kuypers

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•2 hr 19 min•Ep. 3

Does quantum reality emerge from causation? Feat. Dr Nick Ormrod

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•1 hr 21 min•Ep. 2

Locality in Quantum Physics Explained with Dr Nicetu Tibau Vidal

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 p...

Nov 24, 2024•2 hr 1 min•Ep. 1

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