On this episode of Fostering Change, Rob Scheer is joined by David Sussillo, a neuroscientist, author, and former youth who experienced a childhood marked by instability, poverty, and time in group homes.
His story begins in environments many children in foster care and group settings know all too well — uncertainty, trauma, and systems that don’t always provide the support they should. But his story doesn’t end there.
Through a combination of resilience, critical intervention, and moments where someone stepped in, David found a path forward. Today, he is a leading neuroscientist who has worked at Stanford, Google, and Meta, studying the very thing that shaped his life: the human brain.
His memoir, Emergence, is not just a story of survival — it is a powerful reminder of what can happen when even one opportunity changes the trajectory of a child’s life.
This conversation challenges us to ask a difficult but necessary question: how many children are out there right now, just one moment away from a different future?
Episode Highlights
Growing up in instability, poverty, and group home environments
How trauma shapes memory, identity, and development
The role of mentors, teachers, and small interventions
From survival to success in neuroscience and research
Reflecting on resilience, loss, and the paths not taken
About the Guest
David Sussillo is a neuroscientist, author, and adjunct professor at Stanford University. After a childhood marked by instability and time in group homes, he earned a PhD in computational neuroscience from Columbia University and has worked at leading institutions, including Google Brain and Meta.
His memoir, Emergence: A Memoir of Boyhood, Computation, and the Mysteries of Mind, tells the story of his journey from trauma to transformation.
Key Questions from This Episode
What led you to write Emergence now?
What was it like to revisit your childhood experiences through writing?
How did you navigate growing up in group homes and unstable environments?
Who were the people who helped change your path?
What role did small moments or opportunities play in your journey?
How do you reflect on your success alongside those who didn’t have the same outcome?
What would you say to a young person facing similar challenges today?
Closing Thought
Sometimes it doesn’t take everything changing — it takes one moment, one person, one opportunity.
And for a child navigating instability, that can be the difference between surviving and becoming something far beyond anyone's expectations.
Connect with David
🌐 Website:
https://www.davidsussillo.com
🐦 Twitter/X:
https://x.com/SussilloDavid
🔗 LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-sussillo-736a1290/
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