#183. A Neuroscientist Tells the Story of his Remarkable Overcoming of Profound Childhood Adversity
From Delving In with Stuart Kelter by Stuart Kelter
March 16, 2026 · 53 min · Season 1 · Episode 183
About this episode
David Sussillo shares his journey of overcoming childhood adversity and his work in neuroscience.
David Sussillo is an internationally recognized neuroscientist, currently working as a senior research manager at Meta Reality Labs, leading a team that is developing brain-machine interfaces for next-generation computer technologies. He is also an adjunct professor in the electrical engineering department at Stanford University, where he conducts research in computational neuroscience and neural dynamics. This interview will focus on his soon-to-be published book, Emergence: A Memoir of Boyhood, Computation, and the Mysteries of Mind , about his remarkable overcoming of profound childhood adversity, including his earliest years growing up with drug-addicted parents, followed by nearly a decade in orphanages. In this interview we will try to imagine what it was like for David during his childhood, including the hardships, the sources of engagement and hope, and what it took to achieve the improbable: a highly successful life, both professionally and personally. Recorded 3/10/26.
People in this episode
Host: Stuart Kelter
Guest: David Sussillo
Topics covered
- neuroscience
- childhood adversity
- brain-machine interfaces
- computational neuroscience
- personal growth
Keywords
- neuroscience
- childhood adversity
- brain-machine interfaces
- Meta Reality Labs
- Stanford University
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Meta Reality Labs, Stanford University
Books & works: Emergence: A Memoir of Boyhood, Computation, and the Mysteries of Mind
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