“Everything in a NASA mission patch exists for a purpose. Every part is deliberate and important.” -KSCArtist Tim Gagnon, from Casual Space Podcast Have you ever really looked at a mission patch? Every detail was designed and put in place specifically for a reason. Artist Tim Gagnon has “had the honor and privilege” to have been selected by several NASA Flight Crews to design their mission patches. Perhaps you have seen several of his patch designs (Tim has designed many for both space shuttle m...
Jun 03, 2021•49 min•Ep. 122
What happens when we integrate multi-media art with space, science, and technology? Neuroscientist Jancy McPhee is the founder and executive director of SciArt Exchange, an organization providing science and art fusion programs and celebrations of creative innovations. Jancy McPhee works as a Multidisciplinary Program Scientist in the NASA Human Research Program's Chief Scientist's Office and works with Aerospace Human Exploration and Space Flight scientific research with STEM/STEAM education pr...
May 20, 2021•42 min•Ep. 121
Can an artist’s work help to forecast the future? Can art in different forms (infographics, etc.) help decision makers within the industry? Is the ISS beautiful? With more than 20+ years of work in space exploration industry, Phil Smith brings a strong sense of experience and foundation to his work as an analyst and artist. Phil joins Beth on the podcast to explain how his unique role can bring understanding and inspiration to space companies and clients who are looking to peer into the future w...
May 13, 2021•54 min•Ep. 120
What are lava tubes? What can they tell us about the rest of the solar system? Could lava tubes harbor life deep inside them on other planets? Ph.D. student Gavin Tolometti believes the best way to understand the surfaces of planetary bodies like the Moon, Mars, Io, and Venus is to study features like lava tubes on own planet Earth. “I study lava flows. In particular, I want to understand how we can infer how lava flows on Earth and on the Moon and Mars using remote data sets – in particular usi...
May 06, 2021•43 min•Ep. 119
How is one person working to make space travel accessible to everyone? One scholarship at a time, according to Niko Blanks. “For me, sending pediatric cancer patients and their families to Space Camp is all about inspiring them to know that they can achieve their dreams no matter what hurdles they face.” Niko’s a senior spaceflight operations student looking to accomplish a big goal. And he’s just the person to make it happen- he’s already overcome big obstacles in his life at an early age. With...
Apr 29, 2021•51 min•Ep. 118
Are you intimidated by looking at the night sky? Wondering what’s what in our big universe? The astronomers are here to help (it’s easier than you think)! Beth recently invited John, Samantha and Jenna to take your questions about the stars, the planets, the comets and more- all LIVE on the Casual Space Podcast Facebook page! A fun time was had by all (you can tell right away- there’s a LOT of laughing) and the gang promises to return with more great questions in May, so start stargazing tonight...
Apr 22, 2021•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 117
Is there life out there? It is the fundamental question we humans have been asking since the beginning of our existence. Beth and Chad attempt to answer this question, then work in The Fermi Paradox , the Drake Equation , and of course, chickens and lizards. Learn more about the Fermi paradox here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fermi_paradox , And here’s the Drake Equation N = R * x f p x n e x f l x f i x f c x L And here’s how SETI helps us understand the Drake Equation (SETI): https://www.set...
Apr 15, 2021•39 min•Ep. 116
Have you ever been hesitant to try to learn the night sky, or wonder how you can view the cosmos with just a little help? David Dickinson has created the ultimate field guide for us backyard astronomers! David Dickinson is the co-author of The Universe Today Guide to Viewing the Cosmos . Whether you want to impress viewers at a star party, or learn what you can see with your new telescope, David shows you how to find the most impressive views the night sky has to offer. He is an Earth science te...
Apr 01, 2021•40 min•Ep. 115
Laurie thought middle school music students would participate more if they had music about space and rockets, but no such music existed. So she created it. You can guess what happened next. Music educator, author, and space enthusiast, Laurie Orth, had the out-of-the-box idea that perhaps her students would participate more in music class if they had music about space and rockets. Inspired by NASA’s STEM education website, with countless STEM lesson ideas for educators, she decided to create her...
Mar 25, 2021•38 min•Ep. 114
Dr. Kathryn Sullivan, the first American woman to walk in space and a veteran of three shuttle missions, talks with Beth about her experience as part of the team that launched, rescued, repaired, and maintained the Hubble Space Telescope on this week’s episode of the Casual Space Podcast. The Hubble Space Telescope has revolutionized our understanding of the universe. It has, among many other achievements, revealed thousands of galaxies in what seemed to be empty patches of sky; transformed our ...
Mar 18, 2021•44 min•Ep. 113
Carissa Christensen is the Chief Executive Officer and founder of BryceTech . Christensen is an internationally-recognized expert on R&D processes, technology forecasting, and the space industry. She is currently a member of the National Research Council Space Technology Industry Government-University Roundtable, which advises NASA. She has served on the World Economic Forum Global Future Council since 2018. She is a Senior Advisor to the annual US Air Force Schriever Wargame. She serves on ...
Mar 12, 2021•32 min•Ep. 112
If space exploration didn’t happen the way you envisioned it, go back and rewrite the story. For All Mankind is an incredible new sci-fi series on Apple TV+ created and written by Ronald D. Moore , Matt Wolpert and Ben Nedivi. If you have not yet discovered this intense and dramatic show, here’s why it’s worth binge watching immediately - it’s an alternate history depicting "what would have happened” if the global space race never ended after the Soviet Union succeeds in the first crewed Moon la...
Mar 04, 2021•52 min•Ep. 111
Science communication can often be challenging… and at times, make even the most talented scientists, reporters, and educators reluctant to take on the task of communicating scientific findings and new discoveries. In this episode, Brian Palermo infuses his expertise from his experience with improvisation and acting to help us better communicate science! By implementing strategies from improv (think of the “yes, AND” approach to conversations), Brian shows how all of us can easily communicate in...
Feb 25, 2021•59 min•Ep. 110
Will we find life on Mars? On Thursday, February 18, 2021, the Mars Perseverance rover will land at the site of an ancient river delta in a lake that was once filled known as Jezero Crater. The rover will spend at least one Mars year (two Earth years) searching for signs of ancient life! What happens when the Mars Perseverance rover lands on Mars this Thursday? What is EDL and why does it make for such a stressful moment? What are some of the differences with this rover “Percey,” vs. Curiosity? ...
Feb 18, 2021•38 min•Ep. 109
Mars Mission Success with Dr. Sian Proctor, Sensoria Mission Control Mission control plays a critical role in the success of any analog mission. There are a lot of behind-the-scenes activities that the Commander and Mission Control work to resolve, provide and communicate. As a one of the original analog astronauts at the HI-SEAS research facility, and as a analog astronaut to many other mission locations on both land and at sea, Dr. Sian Proctor was perfectly positioned to serve as Mission Cont...
Feb 11, 2021•49 min•Ep. 108
Dr. Brandy Nunez is a microbiologist, a veterinarian, a mother, a live electronic musician and an aspiring astronaut. She is CEO of Mobile Veterinary Services, Inc, based in Orange County, CA. Her formal education is in microbiology/chemistry, with an emphasis on novel therapeutic discovery. She then obtained her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from the Western University of Health Sciences. After several years of clinical and emergency work, Dr. Nunez opened her own mobile practice, focusing o...
Feb 05, 2021•35 min•Ep. 107
RICHELLE GRIBBLE is a multidisciplinary artist exploring planetary connectivity. Her work explores networks and systems-based investigations to reflect the ways human impact, technology, and environment collide. She has had solo shows in Los Angeles, New York, Japan, and international orbit around Earth etched on satellites and aboard rockets. She has exhibited at renowned art fairs including Art Market San Francisco, Texas Contemporary, and Miami Project and had her artwork illuminated on a LED...
Jan 28, 2021•48 min•Ep. 106
Dr. Michaela Musilova is an astrobiologist and the Director of the HI-SEAS analog space station. Michaela studied and conducted research at the University of Bristol, University College London, California Institute of Technology, Chiba University, International Space University (ISU) and others. She worked for NASA, University of London Observatory, Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope and was the Commander of over 20 simulated missions to the Moon and Mars. She is also a visiting Professor at the Slo...
Jan 21, 2021•1 hr 27 min•Ep. 105
Amanda Knutson Chief Engineering Officer, Mission Specialist: Extravehicular Activity Amanda Knutson is an Active Duty US Air Force member , currently working as a Weapons Armament Specialist at Luke AFB . While working full time at Luke AFB, she is studying part-time at Estrella Mountain Community College with plans to complete her Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering at Embry-Riddle . As a high school student enamored of engineering, Amanda was part of the FIRST Robotics Tech Challenge ...
Jan 15, 2021•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 104
Beth recently returned from Mars, and Chad has a few questions. In November, 2020- Beth Mund and 5 other crew members lived, worked and survived a simulated “Mars” mission at the HI-SEAS research facility on the big island of Hawaii. In this episode, Beth “unpacks” the questions Chad has, like, What is an analog astronaut? Why Mars? Why do a mission like this, and what’s been learned so far, and what’s next?” Here are some answers to Chad’s questions beyond the conversation on the podcast, in Be...
Jan 07, 2021•45 min•Ep. 103
Gary Li is currently a spacecraft system engineer at The Aerospace Corporation . He recently graduated with a Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering from UCLA in 2020 and a dual B.A. in Astrophysics and Physics from UC Berkeley in 2014. As an NDSEG fellow, he conducted research on advanced materials for plasma rocket and nuclear fusion technologies. During his academic career, he published over 10 papers and received 1 patent. Gary is also passionate about science communication. In 2017, he gave a prese...
Dec 25, 2020•50 min•Ep. 102
Dylan Taylor is a global business leader and philanthropist. He is an active pioneer in the space exploration industry as a CEO, investor, thought leader and futurist. Every day is like Christmas for Dylan, because working in the space industry has always been his passion and calling. Beth asks Dylan about when his interest in space began, and Dylan describes how investments in space can be transformational for all humans and our future- on this episode of the Casual Space Podcast. ABOUT DYLAN T...
Dec 18, 2020•44 min•Ep. 101
Chad and Beth sit down (literally, in their living room) and reflect (while enjoying a cocktail) on reaching the 100th episode of Casual Space! Beth and Chad talk about: what’s been the best part of hosting the podcast some of the most memorable guests when Beth realized the show was “successful” and what’s next for the Casual Space Podcast!! Thank you to everyone who has helped make the Casual Space Podcast so much fun each week. I sincerely appreciate it! Can’t wait to share with you the next ...
Dec 10, 2020•29 min•Ep. 100
Space investor and entrepreneur Robert C. Jacobson shares highlights from his first book “Space is Open for Business,” providing readers with an insightful guide to the evolving space industry. Robert presents perspectives from experts, industry leaders and investors, each examining the economics and strategies for leading the trillion-dollar race to commercialize space. Jacobson has spent over a decade working and investing in private spaceflight and provides a comprehensive overview of this tr...
Nov 26, 2020•51 min•Ep. 99
Dr. Graham is the Director of Communications and Marketing for Blue Marble Space, a Research Scientist with Blue Marble Space Institute of Science, the Director of Logistics for the University Rover Challenge, the Host of the NASA Astrobiology and SAGANet show “Ask the Astrobiologist” AND the Research Community Coordinator for the Hypothesis Browser and the Life Detection Forum’s Knowledge Base. *Whew!* *Ask an Astrobiologist airs live on SAGANet and on the NASA Astrobiology Facebook page. Peopl...
Nov 19, 2020•57 min•Ep. 98
Dr. Tricia Larose is the Principal Investigator for Tumors in Space. She is preparing for a 31-day Space mission on board the China Space Station. She is supported by 14 international collaborators from four countries. Originally from a mining town in Northern Ontario Canada, she is now based in Oslo, Norway. She is also adjunct faculty in Human Performance in Space at the International Space University, and a scientist-astronaut candidate with Project POSSuM! Valuable resources Tricia mentions ...
Nov 12, 2020•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 97
NASA is testing the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket’s 212-foot tall core stage- the tallest rocket stage the agency has ever built- with a Green Run test on Earth before launch day. The core stage design will be used for all configurations of the SLS rocket, and the series of eight tests will verify the stage is ready for the first and future Artemis lunar missions. On this episode, Beth speaks with Doug Bradley, RS-25 Deputy Program Manager at Aerojet Rocketdyne, Yassaman Liaghati from Boeing,...
Nov 05, 2020•49 min•Ep. 96
Marshall McKellar is an attorney in the aerospace industry, currently serving as an Attorney-Advisor in The Office of the General Counsel at NASA's Kennedy Space Center. Marshall is also the co-founder of This Side, LLC, a marketing/web development agency in the bio-materials industry. He received a J.D. from the University of Mississippi and a B.A. in history and religion from William Carey University. On the side, Marshall enjoys surfing, flying, and making records with his band, The Devil Mus...
Oct 29, 2020•57 min•Ep. 95
Dr. Harrison is known widely in the planetary science and research industry as Tanya of Mars. Why? Tanya is the founder of Professional Martian LLC, a company focused on science and sci-fi consulting, communications, and outreach in ways to break space out of the echo chamber to reach broader audiences. Currently, she is the Manager of Science Programs at Planet Federal in Washington DC, the government-focused arm of Planet Labs. In this role, she helps scientists understand the utility of—and h...
Oct 23, 2020•1 hr 31 min•Ep. 94
Michal Ziso is the founder of Ziso, a studio working at the intersection of architecture, innovation, space and human equality. She is also a Space Architect focused on human experience a trailblazer by dealing with social and psychological diversity aspects, and an active member of WiSpace- Israeli Professional Women in Space Association. A visionary architect practicing for almost a decade in Israel and NYC, she has extensive experience in designing skyscrapers and large-scale urban projects. ...
Oct 15, 2020•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 93
