STEIN Fireside Podcast

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.

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.

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.

In this episode, Dr. Kai Miller (Neurosurgery) and Dr. Bryan Klassen (Neurology) from Mayo Clinic dive into the fundamentals of microelectrode recording (MER) and its role in deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgery.
They break down:
Why Microelectrode Recording Still Matters
The ongoing debate of awake vs. asleep DBS
Whether MER is “outdated” or still essential in the era of advanced imaging
Their philosophy: MER is a critical adjunct, not a replacement for high‑resolution MRI
How MER Works
Using high‑impedance microelectrodes to detect single‑neuron activity
Listening to real‑time firing patterns to confirm entry into specific brain structures
Differentiating white matter vs. gray matter, nucleus boundaries, and disease‑related firing patterns
Mapping the Brain During Surgery
“Exploratory” vs. “confirmatory” MER approaches
Using the Ben Gun device for multi‑trajectory mapping
Understanding firing signatures of
What Surgeons Listen For
Voluntary movement‑related cell firing
Passive movement sensory responses
Tremor‑coherent neuronal firing
Visual pathway confirmation using optic tract flashes
Why This Matters for Patient Outcomes
MER helps surgeons precisely place modern segmented DBS leads, which require millimeter‑level accuracy
Ensures targeting of the most symptom‑relevant neural circuits
Helps avoid complications by identifying sensitive regions (e.g., sensory thalamus, optic tract)
The Human Element
Importance of patient comfort and open interaction during awake DBS
Real‑time teamwork between neurology, neurosurgery, and the OR staff

Join us for an in‑depth fireside conversation with Dr. Sean Pittock, Chair of Neurology at Mayo Clinic and pioneer in neuroimmunology, and Dr. Nathan Staff, neuromuscular neurologist and Chair of the Mayo Neurology Research Committee. Hosted by Dr. Bryan Klassen and Dr. Kai Miller, this episode dives into the real stories, scientific breakthroughs, and future‑shaping ideas transforming neurology today.
From life‑changing early discoveries to the frontier of neurotechnology, this episode offers a rare inside look at how innovation happens at a world‑leading institution.
-What You’ll Hear in This Episode
How career detours lead to medical breakthroughs
Dr. Pittock recounts how one rotation changed his path from psychiatry to neurology — and how a simple knock on a lab door led him to help discover the first‑ever antibody biomarker for an MS‑like disease.
The science behind EMG — and why experts still use their ears
Dr. Staff and Dr. Klassen break down the difference between surface EMG, needle EMG, and how modern algorithms are augmenting (not replacing) clinical expertise.
CAR‑T therapy and the future of treating autoimmune brain diseases
Hear a clear, powerful explanation of how CAR‑T works — and how precision immune‑cell targeting may revolutionize care for rare neurological disorders.
The “Power of Rare”
Why rare diseases aren’t truly rare — and how solving one rare disorder accelerates treatments for many others.
Team science, leadership, and accelerating discovery
Our guests discuss how Mayo is shifting from siloed labs to collaborative, infrastructure‑driven innovation — and why patients can’t afford 25‑year timelines for cures.
Funding realities & the future of biomedical research
A candid discussion about NIH pressures, diversification of funding, and the growing role of industry and benefactors in powering medical breakthroughs.
 Why This Episode Matters
Whether you’re a clinician, researcher, engineer, student, or simply fascinated by the brain, this episode reveals the real mechanisms behind transformative discovery — not just in science, but in leadership, mentorship, and multidisciplinary collaboration.

In this episode of the STEIN Fireside Podcast, Dr. Kai Miller and Dr. Bryan Klassen have the tables flipped and are interviewed by Dr. Chris Honey to explore how innovation really spreads within neurology and neurosurgery. From informal conversations over conference coffee to industry‑driven breakthroughs and peer‑to‑peer mentorship, they unpack the three major channels that shape modern clinical practice.
Learn how deep brain stimulation, neuromodulation strategies, surgical techniques, and even small day‑to‑day improvements make their way from one expert’s hands to the entire field. The team also shares the origins of the STEIN community, their passion for electrophysiology, and why logical thinking—from Apple II programming to modern‑day signal decoding—helps drive their work.
Whether you're a trainee, clinician, engineer, or simply curious about how neuroscience evolves, this episode gives an inside look at the collaborative, innovative culture behind neurosurgical progress.

In this episode of STEIN Fireside Podcast, Dr. Kai Miller takes us inside the complex world of epilepsy surgery and explains how doctors decide the best treatment for patients with drug-resistant seizures. You’ll learn:• How patients move from initial consultation to surgery• The role of multidisciplinary teams in planning treatment• Key diagnostic steps like EEG, MRI, and semiology• Surgical options: open resection, laser ablation, and neurostimulation• Cutting-edge techniques like stereotactic laser therapy, deep brain stimulation, and responsive neurostimulation• Why minimally invasive approaches are transforming patient outcomesThis episode is packed with insights for medical professionals, students, and anyone curious about the future of epilepsy care. Watch now and subscribe for more neurosurgery deep dives! Access the full paper via QR code in the video.

Welcome to Episode 1 of the Stein Fireside Podcast! Join Dr. Kai Miller and Dr. Bryan Klassen from Mayo Clinic as they sit down with Dr. Chris Honey, a leading expert in cognitive neuroscience, for a fascinating conversation on how the brain stitches together reality across time. In this episode, we explore:• The science behind short-term memory and distributed brain networks• How intracranial recordings reveal the brain’s dynamic timescales• The future of brain-computer interfaces and neural decoding• Why understanding memory integration matters for neurosurgery and patient careIf you’re curious about large-scale brain dynamics, neural hierarchies, and the intersection of neuroscience, Subscribe for more episodes on innovation in neurosurgery and brain science.