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Space Episodes

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Jan. 22, 2024

Best of: The End of the Universe

How will the universe end? That's today's big question, and my guest is Sarafina El-Badry Nance. Sarafina is an NSF graduate research fellow, astrophysics Ph.D. candidate, and Forbes 30 Under 30 Science 2022 honoree, special…
Aug. 1, 2022

Episode X: A Far Out Geek Girl Rises

In a world where trust in institutions and in news is falling and the role of influencers is growing, finding the connective tissue between you and your audience is key to, well, connecting. To establish a rapport, which can…
Dec. 7, 2021

So We Can’t Just Blow Up Asteroids, Then?

Yes, we all know that the 1998 Michael Bay flick Armageddon is a masterpiece of cinema, but two years ago we asked ourselves this question: How much does it actually hold up as a blueprint for preventing planetary destructio…
Oct. 4, 2021

The First Black Female Space Pilot

We’re bringing back one of our all-time most popular conversations, and not just because it kicks ass. When this interview was recorded back in 2018, Dr. Sian Proctor was almost an astronaut. Now, in 2021, Dr. Proctor has ju…
May 3, 2021

110. The End of the Universe

In Episode 110 , Quinn’s talking about the end of the universe. His guest is Sarafina Nance , Ph.D. candidate at Berkeley, astrophysicist, author, and women’s health advocate. She also hosts Constellation , a TV show by Seek…
June 1, 2020

GOOD NEWS: What's It Like To Almost Be An Astronaut?

Back in Episode 42 , Quinn & Brian asked: What happens when you’re almost an astronaut... and what comes next? Our guest is Dr. Sian Proctor , an explorer, scientist, full-time professor, STEM communicator, and almost an ast…
April 20, 2020

GOOD NEWS: So We Can’t Just Blow Up Asteroids, Then?

Our “Good News” series of replays begins today with Episode 66 , when Quinn & Brian hosted a delightfully important discussion: Why, apparently, we shouldn’t just blow up asteroids. Our guest is: Professor K.T. Ramesh , who …
May 28, 2019

#68: Let’s Send Our Homework into Space

In Episode 68, Quinn & Brian discuss: Sending our homework to space. Our guest is Michelle Lucas, an actual rocket scientist and the founder of Higher Orbits. Michelle spent 10 years at NASA, where part of her role involved …
May 14, 2019

#66: So We Can’t Just Blow Up Asteroids, Then?

In Episode 66 , Quinn & Brian want to know why the hell we can't -- and further -- shouldn’t just blow up asteroids . Our guest is the incredible Professor K.T. Ramesh , professor of mechanical engineering at John Hopkins, f…
Nov. 6, 2018

#42: What Happens When You’re Almost an Astronaut... And What Comes Next?

Dr. Sian Proctor tells us how we can all help get more women and more people of color into space, one way or another. Want to send us feedback? Tweet us, email us, or leave us a voice message!
Oct. 23, 2018

#40: What Takes a Young Woman from Art School to NASA... & Why Might That Change Everything Forever, for Everyone?

Our guest is Ariel Waldman, the author of What's It Like in Space? Stories from Astronauts Who've Been There, the founder of Spacehack.org, the global director of Science Hack Day, and a member of the council for NASA Innova…
July 31, 2018

#28: Why the Hell is Space Exploration Important When the Planet is Literally on Fire?

In Episode 28, Quinn & Brian ask: why the hell is space exploration important when the planet is literally on fire? To answer that, they’ve brought on The Space Gal, Emily Calandrelli. And boy does she set the record straigh…
May 22, 2018

#18: A new science foundation in America

In Episode 18, Quinn & Brian try to build a more flexible, approachable, and fun new science foundation in America. But they don't know where to start. Enter the legendary Phil Plait, the “Bad Astronomer”. He's an astronomer…