NASA Engineer Turned Author, Zach Taylor

What’s it like to work at NASA… and then go write a novel about rockstars?In this episode of Mad Props, host Chris Schnabel sits down with NASA engineer and author Zach Taylor to dive into two completely different worlds—space exploration and storytelling.Zach shares:How he became a NASA engineer and what the job is really likeThe pressure behind working on missions that impact human spaceflightWhy space exploration still matters (and what’s holding it back)The reality of NASA funding, missions, and long-term goalsHis journey into writing and publishing his debut novel Rockstar EchoesThe conversation then shifts into Zach’s book, exploring:The inspiration behind Rockstar EchoesFame vs. the grind of making it in the music industryBuilding complex characters and long-form storytellingThe realities of being an independent author🎧 Subscribe for more conversations with athletes, creators, engineers, and storytellers.Follow Zach TaylorInstagram & TikTok: https://www.instagram.com/@ZachTaylorBookshttps://www.tiktok.com/@ZachTaylorBooksBuy Rockstars: Echoes: https://bit.ly/4czPn2DFollow Mad PropsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/madpropspodTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@madpropspodX: https://www.x.com/madpropspodFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/madpropspodFollow Chris SchnabelInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/chrisschnabelTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@chris.schnabelYouTube: @Chris.SchnabelMad Props is a Schnabel Studios ProductionChapters00:00 – Intro02:00 – Chris announces Comicpalooza appearance03:30 – Meeting Zach through Reddit04:00 – How Zach got into NASA06:30 – Life as a NASA engineer & pressure of the job08:30 – Managing teams, workload & mission stress10:15 – Why Huntsville is “Rocket City”12:15 – NASA launches & witnessing history14:30 – Why space exploration still matters16:45 – Funding challenges & political impact on NASA19:00 – Why getting to the Moon is so difficult21:00 – Conspiracies, perception & public understanding24:00 – Why Zach started writing26:00 – Inspiration behind Rockstar Echoes28:00 – Writing process & publishing journey30:00 – Independent publishing vs traditional publishing32:45 – Fame vs grind: themes of the book35:30 – Female perspective in rock music storytelling38:00 – Music industry realities & gender dynamics41:00 – Research process behind the story42:30 – What Zach wants readers to take away44:30 – Future books & series expansion47:30 – New project idea: “Skinsuit”50:30 – Where to find Zach & his book52:30 – Outro