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The Quantum Spin

The Quantum Spin

By: HKA Marketing Communications
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The first podcast focused on PR and marketing communications for the quantum tech industry, by HKA Marcom, specializing in PR for startup, scaling and global quantum tech companies.HKA Marketing Communications
Episodes
  • Episode 43: Explain Like I’m Five: Quantum from a Kid’s POV
    Jan 13 2026

    Kids ask the best questions: simple, direct and sometimes painfully honest. Science communicator Katia Moskvitch, MPHIL, uses this approach in the podcast she hosts with her young son Kai. The co-hosts of “The Quantum Kid” channel Kai’s curiosity and enthusiasm for STEM into an educational show about quantum tech. Katia also shares her experiences working with IBM, the importance of effective science communication, and plans for her new company, Tesseract Quantum. Katia is also the director of communications at Quantum Machines.

    00:00 Introduction to The Quantum Spin

    00:34 Meet Katia Moskvitch: The Quantum Kid

    00:51 Kai's Journey into STEM

    06:02 The Quantum Kid Podcast: Format and Guests

    08:06 Challenges in Quantum Communication

    13:08 Educational Initiatives in Quantum

    17:14 Katia's Experience with IBM and Quantum Communication

    22:57 Advice for Quantum CEOs and Future Plans

    24:32 Conclusion and Farewell


    Katia Moskvitch is a theoretical physicist, science communicator, founder and president of Tesseract Quantum and director of communications at Quantum Machines. She also co-hosts The Quantum Kid podcast with her son Kai. Katia worked in science journalism for 20+ years of experience turning complex technologies into compelling stories and strategies as a business editor at WIRED and at IBM Research.

    Today her work is all about explaining quantum technologies to a general audience, educating developers, CEOs, and the next generation about quantum, and helping to ensure the technology truly matters. She is passionate about quantum and focused on expanding access to quantum education — through university partnerships, public content, and corporate upskilling. She helps learners and leaders understand not just how quantum works, but why it matters.

    Host Veronica Combs is a quantum tech editor, writer and PR professional. She manages public relations for quantum computing clients at HKA Marketing Communications, the #1 agency in quantum tech PR. Veronica joined HKA from TechRepublic and has covered technology, healthcare and business strategy for more than 15 years.

    Connect with Veronica on LinkedIn:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/veronicacombs/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    Connect with HKA Marketing Communications on LinkedIn at

    https://www.linkedin.com/company/hka-inc--public-relations/ or on our website https://hkamarcom.com/


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    25 mins
  • Episode 42: Telling Science Stories with Poetry, Comedy and Wonder
    Dec 16 2025

    In this episode of The Quantum Spin by HKA, host Veronica Combs takes a deep dive into how to make difficult topics interesting and engaging with Rachel Rayner, Science Explainer. A communicator, writer, and performer, Rachel shares her unique journey of combining science with the arts, highlighting her one-woman comedy show, “A Flying Photon,” and her work on the EV Nautilus. They discuss the importance of improvisation, deep listening, and knowing one's audience to effective communication. Tune in to understand how blending wonder and curiosity with scientific stories can make complex subjects accessible to all.


    00:00 Welcome to The Quantum Spin

    00:34 Meet Rachel Rayner: The Science Explainer

    00:55 Rachel's Journey and Career Highlights

    01:46 The Art of Science Communication

    03:43 Improvisation and Audience Engagement

    06:27 Elevating Women's Voices in Science

    11:27 The Intersection of Science and Poetry

    14:50 The Importance of Place in Communication

    22:39 Rachel's Work with Dr. Robert Ballard

    24:56 Closing Thoughts and Podcast Information


    Rachel Rayner is a science communicator, producer and performer who has contributed to projects throughout Australia, Vietnam, the USA and South Africa. She performs her latest one-woman comedy show, “Atomically Correct” at festivals all over Australia and in New Zealand. She also hosts a podcast, “Australian Highlights” that tells stories of innovation in her home country. She toured Vietnam on a diplomatic mission to invigorate science education, broadcasted the frontline of ocean exploration from the bottom of the Pacific, supported the launch of one of the world's largest science experiments in the South African desert, and co-authored a paper on science poetry. She has had roles in strategic marketing, events, PR, communications and education across government organisations, charities and corporate enterprise. She has a bachelor’s degree in liberal studies and a graduate diploma in science communication.

    Connect with Rachel: https://raynerexplainer.com/about


    Host Veronica Combs is a quantum tech editor, writer and PR professional. She manages public relations for quantum computing clients at HKA Marketing Communications, the #1 agency in quantum tech PR. Veronica joined HKA from TechRepublic and has covered technology, healthcare and business strategy for more than 15 years.

    Connect with Veronica on LinkedIn:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/veronicacombs/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    Connect with HKA Marketing Communications on LinkedIn at

    https://www.linkedin.com/company/hka-inc--public-relations/ or on our website at ⁠⁠https://hkamarcom.com/

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    26 mins
  • Episode 41: Entangling QPUs to Build a Quantum Data Center
    Dec 2 2025

    In this episode of The Quantum Spin by HKA, host Veronica Combs interviews Carmen Palacios Berraquero, founder and CEO of Nu Quantum. They discuss the company’s entanglement fabric, a cutting-edge mechanism for connecting individual quantum processors into a larger, more powerful machine. Carmen also explains the importance of industry collaboration as supported by the new Quantum Datacenter Alliance. Nu Quantum is also developing a quantum networking test bed. Join this enlightening discussion for an insider's view on the next frontier of quantum computing.

    00:00 Introduction to The Quantum Spin Podcast

    00:35 Interview with Carmen Palacios Berraquero: Nu Quantum's Vision

    00:53 Understanding the Entanglement Fabric

    04:14 Qubit Modalities and Networking

    06:19 Nu Quantum's Rack-Mounted Solutions

    07:34 Building a Strong Company Culture

    11:31 The Quantum Data Center Alliance

    16:03 Government Support and Future Plans

    17:55 Exciting Announcements and Test Bed Development

    19:50 Conclusion and Farewell

    Dr. Carmen Palacios-Berraquero is the Founder and Chief Executive of Nu Quantum, the leading quantum entanglement company, which recently raised a £8.5M pre-Series A from leading VCs including Amadeus Capital, IQ Capital, and the National Security Strategic Investment Fund (NSSIF). She is an award-winning quantum physicist and inventor, author of several high-impact research papers and a book based on her doctoral research. Prior to founding Nu Quantum, Carmen earned her PhD in physics at the University of Cambridge and undergraduate degree at Imperial College London. She also serves on the Technical Advisory Board of the UK’s National Quantum Computing Centre and is Cofounder and Director of UKQuantum, the UK’s quantum industry group. She has been the leader of several pro-equality and LGBTQIA+ visibility groups, and initiatives in STEM.

    Host Veronica Combs is a quantum tech editor, writer and PR professional. She manages public relations for quantum computing clients at HKA Marketing Communications, the #1 agency in quantum tech PR. Veronica joined HKA from TechRepublic and has covered technology, healthcare and business strategy for more than 15 years.

    Connect with Veronica on LinkedIn:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/veronicacombs/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    Connect with HKA Marketing Communications on LinkedIn at
    https://www.linkedin.com/company/hka-inc--public-relations/ or on our website at ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://hkamarcom

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    21 mins
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