Aspiring Martians

This week on Aspiring Martians, I’m joined by Arshleen Kaur Sahni, a space architect, researcher, analog astronaut trainee, and the founder of Arkasa.As a child in India, Arshleen would spend hours staring at the Moon from her window, completely captivated by space. Years later, after discovering the field of space architecture almost by accident, she found a way to combine her love of space, human psychology, and design into a career focused on one enormous question:How do we build places where humans can truly live beyond Earth?Through Arkasa, Arshleen and her team are exploring lunar habitats, Mars analog stations, astronaut psychology, sustainable systems, biotechnology, and human-centered space design. Her work spans everything from hydroponic lunar living concepts to analog astronaut training systems designed to make space exploration more accessible and inclusive.In this conversation, we talk about what space architecture actually is, why the future of Mars habitats may depend as much on psychology as engineering, how analog missions changed the way she thinks about comfort and isolation, why many early space habitats feel so sterile, the tension between survival and beauty in extreme environments, how culture and identity may shape future settlements beyond Earth, why collaboration across disciplines matters so much, how Arkasa is trying to make analog astronaut experiences more accessible to everyone, and why the future of living in space might depend on remembering what makes us human in the first place.Find out more about Arkasa at their website www.arkasa.in~A huge thank you to Arshleen for joining me today and sharing her story and perspective, and of course thank you to Nick Thorburn for the stellar theme music, Ceci Giglio for the incredible graphics, Jero Squartini for the amazing animations, to RDan, Leila, Inka, and Carl for admining the Facebook group, and to my family for supporting this project.

What does it actually take to simulate life on the Moon… inside a Swiss mountain?In this month’s Inside the Habitat, we go deep into the Asclepios Project, a student-led analog mission program designed to prepare the next generation of astronauts, engineers, and scientists for the realities of space exploration.Founded at EPFL, Asclepios brings together students from around the world to design, train for, and execute fully immersive lunar simulations in underground environments like the Sasso San Gottardo fortress in the Swiss Alps. These missions aren’t just about roleplay; they’re about real science, real pressure, and real collaboration under extreme conditions.Joe is joined by Matthew Acevski, Ambre Bexter, and Joseph Hong, who share what it’s like to go from applicant to astronaut, how mission control operates behind the scenes, and what happens when you spend two weeks cut off from sunlight, normal routines, and, occasionally, basic privacy.From survival training and psychological stress to cutting-edge experiments in robotics, life support, and human behavior, this episode offers a rare look at how we’re preparing for the future of living beyond Earth.And if you’re inspired by what Asclepios is building, you can support their upcoming mission, Asclepios VI, and help bring the next generation of lunar explorers to life.Asclepios VI GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/donate-to-support-our-student-space-mission~A huge thank you as well to Matthew, Ambre, and Joseph for joining me today and sharing their work on the Asclepius mission. And of course, thank you to Nick Thorburn for the stellar theme music, Ceci Giglio for the incredible graphics, Jero Squartini for the amazing animations, to RDan, Leila, Inka, and Carl for admining the Facebook group, and to my family for supporting this project.

What happens to the Overview Effect when Earth is no longer the center of your universe?In this special Everyday Mars episode, Joe sits down with Frank White, the visionary behind The Overview Effect, to explore how one of the most profound psychological experiences in spaceflight might transform as humanity pushes toward Mars.For decades, astronauts in low Earth orbit have described a powerful shift in perspective when looking back at our planet, one that dissolves borders, reshapes identity, and fosters a deep sense of connection. But what happens when that view changes? When Earth becomes smaller, more distant… eventually just a pale dot in the void?Together, Joe and Frank unpack how the Overview Effect might evolve across deep space missions: from orbit, to the Moon, and all the way to Mars. They explore whether future astronauts could experience something entirely new on their journey and whether the first humans to set foot on Mars might feel a fundamentally different kind of perspective shift upon arrival.Along the way, they dive into the origins of the Overview Effect, the role of perception and distance, how identity may shift for future Martians, and why this experience may be more than just emotional...it could shape the future of humanity itself.And with today marking the final day to support the #SendFrankToSpace campaign, this conversation also carries a unique weight: the chance to send the man who defined this phenomenon into space to experience it firsthand. Learn more and donate: moondao.com/overviewSeeing Is Believing: The Overview Effect Illustrated - https://a.co/d/0gJnoRhrAmerican Revolution - https://a.co/d/0ePG5xXk~A huge thank you as well to Frank White for joining me today and sharing his incredible perspective, and a special thank you to MoonDAO for putting together the #SendFrankToSpace campaign and for all the work they’ve done to make this possible. Today is the last day to contribute, so if you want to help Frank experience the Overview Effect for himself, you can head to moondao.com/overview to learn more and get involved. And of course, thank you to Nick Thorburn for the stellar theme music, Ceci Giglio for the incredible graphics, Jero Squartini for the amazing animations, to RDan, Leila, Inka, and Carl for admining the Facebook group, and to my family for supporting this project—even when conversations drift toward how seeing Earth might change everything.

From Mars simulations… to mission control.This week on Aspiring Martians, Joe is joined by Cassandra Klos, a photographer, curator, and analog astronaut whose work lives at the intersection of art, science, and the future of human spaceflight.Cassandra is the creator of Mars on Earth, a long-running project documenting space analog missions, those carefully designed simulations where humans rehearse life on Mars right here on Earth. But she doesn’t just photograph these missions...she lives them. From serving as crew journalist to commanding analog missions, she’s experienced firsthand what it means to simulate life on another world.More recently, her work has taken her even closer to the real thing. As a photo correspondent covering Artemis II, she’s been behind the scenes at Johnson Space Center, documenting mission control as humanity prepares to return to deep space.This episode is about what happens when you blur the line between simulation and reality… and why the stories we tell about space might shape the future just as much as the missions themselves.~A huge thank you Cassandra for joining me today and sharing her story and perspective, to Nick Thorburn for the stellar theme music, to Ceci Giglio for the incredible graphics, to Jero Squartini for the amazing animations, to RDan, Leila, Inka, and Carl for admining the Facebook group, and to my family for supporting this project.

What does it look like to prepare for Mars… from a place the space industry often overlooks?In this episode of Aspiring Martians, I sit down with Isaac Macharia Gathu, founder and president of Mars Society Kenya, to talk about building a path to space where none previously existed.Isaac is a Kenyan IT technician, entrepreneur, analog astronaut, and one of the leading voices pushing for Africa’s role in the future of human space exploration. Through his work, he’s not only growing a community of aspiring Martians across Kenya, but also developing real-world analog simulations like OASEAS and working toward a Mars habitat in the Chalbi Desert.His journey has captured global attention, including in the documentary Kenyan on Mars, but what makes Isaac’s story so compelling is not just the dream… it’s the discipline behind it.In this episode, we talked all about Kenyan pride in space exploration, building Mars Society Kenya, Maasai-inspired spacesuit beadwork, training for a future that hasn’t arrived yet, analog astronaut missions in Africa, creating opportunity where none exists, preparing for the World’s Biggest Analog, the power of representation in space, blending culture with technology, overcoming doubt and distance, community-driven space advocacy, and why pursuing your dream matters… even when the odds say otherwise.Kenyan on Mars documentary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8s-Gi4Zk0hUMars Society Kenya: https://kenyamarssociety.org/~A huge thank you as well to Isaac for joining me today and sharing his story and perspective, to Nick Thorburn for the stellar theme music, to Ceci Giglio for the incredible graphics, to Jero Squartini for the amazing animations, to RDan, Leila, Inka, and Carl for admining the Facebook group, and to my family for supporting this project!

What does it take to build a Mars mission… from scratch?In this month’s Inside the Habitat, we head to Wadi Rum, Jordan, a place so otherworldly it’s often called “The Valley of the Moon,” to explore MENA, the first women-led space organization in the region dedicated to STEM, inclusion, and human space exploration.Founded in 2024, MENA is already pushing boundaries, combining education, analog missions, and global collaboration to empower the next generation of scientists, engineers, and explorers. With over 250 students and young professionals involved, their work extends far beyond space, tackling real-world challenges like sustainability, water systems, and climate innovation.And at the center of it all is Salam Abualhayjaa, founder and CEO, a mechanical engineer specializing in spacesuit design, a science communicator, and someone quietly building the future of space exploration from the ground up.We talk about what it was like to run one of the very first missions as part of the World’s Biggest Analog, recently featured in National Geographic, and what happens when you try to build a Mars mission in the desert with limited resources, big ambition, and very little room for error.In this episode, we talked all about what Wadi Rum feels like, building community first, going from nothing to mission, bold leap beginnings, three-week deadline scramble, desert habitat build, bubble dome setup, mission control chaos, two-hour sleep nights, power outages reality, Mars-like isolation, crew psychology shifts, strangers to tension, real-time problem solving, spacesuit EVAs daily, learning on the fly, global analog collaboration, the World’s Biggest Analog, media and momentum, and how setbacks can turn into something much bigger than you ever planned.~A huge thank you as well to Salam and her team at MENA for joining me today and sharing their incredible work and perspective, to Nick Thorburn for the stellar theme music, to Ceci Giglio for the incredible graphics, to Jero Squartini for the amazing animations, to RDan, Leila, Inka, and Carl for admining the Facebook group, and to my family for supporting this project.

Today is one of those days that changes the trajectory of everything.As Artemis II launches humanity back beyond low Earth orbit for the first time in over 50 years, we’re marking the moment with a special bonus episode of Aspiring Martians.Because this mission isn’t just about going to the Moon. It’s about proving we can go further.Artemis II will send astronauts around the Moon aboard the Orion spacecraft, testing the systems, endurance, and operations that will define the next era of human spaceflight. It’s the bridge between where we’ve been… and where we’re going next.And that next step includes Mars.To help bring that future into focus, I’m joined by Ben Bailey, a member of NASA’s 2025 Astronaut Candidate Class Group 24, aka "the Platypi".Ben’s path to NASA is anything but typical. From building nuclear propulsion systems for aircraft carriers, to flying Black Hawk helicopters in high-risk environments, to becoming an experimental test pilot pushing aircraft to their limits, his career sits at the intersection of engineering, exploration, and extreme performance.Now, he’s training for missions that could take him to the Moon… and eventually beyond.This is a short but powerful conversation about what it takes to become an astronaut, what Artemis means for the future of exploration, and how close we really are to becoming a multi-planetary species.Because today isn’t just a launch.It’s a beginning.~A huge thank you as well to Ben for joining me today and taking the time to answer all my weird questions. I also want to thank Anna Schneider at NASA for helping coordinate all of this. And of course, thank you to Nick Thorburn for the stellar theme music, Ceci Giglio for the incredible graphics, Jero Squartini for the amazing animations, RDan, Leila, Inka, and Carl for admining the Facebook group, and to my family for supporting this project...even when me asking to excuse myself from the table turns into some epic lunar farewell speech.

We’re going somewhere humanity hasn’t quite been willing to go yet… not physically, but conversationally.Because if we’re serious about building a future on Mars, we have to ask a simple question: are we designing that future for everyone?This week, I’m joined by Manju Bangalore: engineer, researcher, astronaut-in-training, and founder of Operation Period to explore one of the most overlooked gaps in human spaceflight: menstruation.From her work at NASA and in science policy to launching a pioneering effort to study periods in microgravity, Manju is helping redefine what it means to build truly human-centered systems in space.This is a conversation about science, stigma, autonomy, and design and why something that affects billions of people has been treated like an afterthought in space exploration.If Mars is going to be home… this is part of the blueprint.Check out Operation Period and their Red Shift Lab on their website: https://www.operationperiod.org/Dive into more about Manju! https://www.astronautmanju.com/A huge thank you as well to Manju for joining me today and sharing her time and perspective, to Kayley for helping coordinate and review everything, to Nick Thorburn for the stellar theme music, to Ceci Giglio for the incredible graphics, to Jero Squartini for the amazing animations, to RDan, Leila, Inka, and Carl for admining the Facebook group, and to my family for supporting this project—even when NASA design decisions become dinner table topics.References:Stats on menstruators: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10014781/World Bank stats: https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/water/brief/menstrual-health-and-hygieneOriginal Kotex ad: http://www.mum.org/kotexadwords.htmTampax Tampons with Courtney Cox Commercial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnmxLW4cO88100 tampons: https://people.com/nasa-engineers-packed-100-tampons-for-sally-ride-for-one-week-in-space-8781804Menstruation in spaceflight: Options for astronauts: https://www.kcl.ac.uk/archive/news/lsm/newsrecords/2016/apr/menstruation-in-spaceflight-options-for-astronauts?utm_source=chatgpt.comFirst study to measure toxic metals in tampons shows arsenic and lead, among other contaminants: https://publichealth.berkeley.edu/articles/spotlight/research/first-study-to-measure-toxic-metals-in-tampons-shows-arsenic-and-leadTampons as a source of exposure to metal(loid)s: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412024004355FDA launches tampon safety investigation after study finds toxic metals: https://publichealth.berkeley.edu/articles/spotlight/research/fda-launches-tampon-safety-investigation-after-study-finds-toxic-metals#:~:text=Two%20months%20after%20a%20study%20led%20by,its%20own%20investigation%20into%20the%20potential%20hazard.Menstruation in spaceflight: https://www.kcl.ac.uk/archive/news/lsm/newsrecords/2016/apr/menstruation-in-spaceflight-options-for-astronauts?utm_source=chatgpt.comAnalysis of menstrual effluent: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6016873/pdf/10020_2018_Article_9.pdfNext-gen tech can detect disease biomarker in period blood: https://www.psu.edu/news/research/story/next-gen-tech-can-detect-disease-biomarker-period-bloodMenstruAI: https://ethz.ch/en/news-and-events/eth-news/news/2025/05/sanitary-towels-morph-into-test-strips.htmlPotential for and challenges of menstrual blood as anon-invasive diagnostic specimen: current statusand future directions: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11305704/pdf/ms9-86-4591.pdfGinger for Pain Management in Primary Dysmenorrhea: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38770631/Effect of fennel on pain intensity in dysmenorrhoea: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3611645/pdf/AYU-33-311.pdfComparison of the effect of Chamomile: https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/bcd0/a6d6c9ffc4012c6178d41662bb0899972723.pdfHypatia astronauts:https://www.catalannews.com/tech-science/item/hypatia-astronauts-suggest-using-menstrual-blood-as-fertilizer-for-plants-on-mars

Today we've got the ULTIMATE aspiring Martian!This week, Joe is joined by Alyssa Carson: science communicator, astrobiologist, and one of the most recognizable voices of the so-called “Mars Generation.” You may know her as “Blueberry,” the kid who decided at just three years old that she wanted to go to Mars...and then actually kept going.But this conversation isn’t about a childhood dream. It’s about what happens after the dream sticks.We talk about what it really takes to stay committed to something as distant, and as uncertain, as Mars, how that path evolves over time, and why becoming an astronaut isn’t about a single job, but a collection of skills, experiences, and relentless curiosity. Alyssa shares how she found her way into astrobiology, what she’s studying now in her PhD, and how her work is helping answer one of the biggest questions we have: could life exist beyond Earth?We also get into the reality behind the headlines: what the public gets wrong about space, how safety and risk are actually approached, the importance of community and support systems, and why the future of space might look a lot more connected to everyday life than we think.Because becoming Martian isn’t about one giant leap.It’s about thousands of small, deliberate steps.~A huge thank you as well to Alyssa for joining me today and sharing her time and perspective, to her dad Bert for coordinating all of this, to Nick Thorburn for the stellar theme music, to Ceci Giglio for the incredible graphics, to Jero Squartini for the amazing animations, to RDan, Leila, Inka, and Carl for admining the Facebook group, and to my family for supporting this project

What if the path to space started not in a government astronaut corps… but on your laptop?This week on Aspiring Martians, I’m joined by Benedetta Facini — citizen scientist, science communicator, asteroid hunter, and newly selected astronaut candidate with Titans Space Industries.Benedetta’s journey into space didn’t begin with rocket equations or flight school. It started with curiosity, a telescope, and a grandfather who accidentally sparked a lifelong fascination with the cosmos. From there, that curiosity led her into NASA citizen science projects where she began analyzing real astronomical data, helping identify asteroids, studying Martian cloud patterns, and collaborating with researchers and volunteers around the world.Along the way she discovered something powerful: the realization that space exploration isn’t only driven by astronauts and engineers — it’s also powered by ordinary people contributing their time, curiosity, and patience to scientific discovery.Today Benedetta is a physics student, science communicator, mentor to young citizen scientists, and part of a new generation working to make space exploration more accessible to everyone.In this episode we explore how citizen science can open doors into the space industry, what it’s like to mentor students discovering asteroids for the first time, the surprising reality of astronaut selection, and why curiosity might be the most important qualification for anyone hoping to explore the universe.Because sometimes the journey to space doesn’t begin with a rocket launch.Sometimes it begins with a question.~A huge thank you as well to Benedetta for joining me today and sharing her time and perspective, to Nick Thorburn for the stellar theme music, to Ceci Giglio for the incredible graphics, to Jero Squartini for the amazing animations, to RDan, Leila, Inka, and Carl for admining the Facebook group, and to my family for supporting this project.

What does it really take to become an aspiring Martian?For some, the journey starts with engineering degrees, astronaut training programs, and analog missions in the desert. For others, it begins much earlier — with challenges that shape resilience, perspective, and a deep curiosity about the human body in extreme environments.This week I’m joined by Shriya Musuku, a mechanical engineer, analog astronaut, EMT, and astronaut candidate whose career sits at the intersection of engineering, medicine, and space exploration.Shriya earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in mechanical engineering from the Rochester Institute of Technology, where her work ranged from thermal microfluidics research and robotics to computational modeling and biomedical applications. Along the way she also volunteered as an EMT and firefighter, gaining firsthand experience responding to high-stress situations and learning how teams operate in extreme environments.Those experiences now inform her work in the space industry. Shriya currently serves as Director of Operations at Titans Space Industries, and she is also an R&D Astronaut Candidate, part of a new generation of explorers working toward a future where space becomes accessible to more people around the world.But her story begins long before engineering school.As a child, Shriya was diagnosed with leukemia and had to relearn how to walk during her recovery — an experience that helped shape her interest in human health, resilience, and the challenges astronauts face in extreme environments  .For Shriya, going to space isn’t just about the adventure.It’s about perspective, resilience, and building a future where exploration benefits everyone.~A huge thank you as well to Shriya for joining me today and sharing her time and perspective, to Nick Thorburn for the stellar theme music, to Ceci Giglio for the incredible graphics, to Jero Squartini for the amazing animations, to RDan, Leila, Inka, and Carl for adminning the Facebook group, and to my family for supporting this project—even when conversations about buried Martian mountains sneak into everyday life.

This month on Inside the Habitat, we step inside one of Europe’s most respected analog research facilities: LunAres Research Station in Poland.Founded in 2017 and located inside a former post-military airport hangar, LunAres has become a globally recognized platform for human spaceflight research. The station runs 10–12 analog missions per year, hosts crews of four to eight participants, and has supported more than 65 scientific experiments across over 40 missions. Its work spans space medicine, psychology, biotechnology, robotics, human factors, and sustainable living systems. It also serves as a mirror platform for ESA-funded research connected to Poland’s upcoming IGNIS mission to the International Space Station.But LunAres doesn’t rely on natural deserts or volcanic terrain. Instead, it specializes in something arguably more difficult: controlled isolation.Inside a reinforced concrete hangar with no windows, crews simulate lunar and Martian missions under tightly managed environmental conditions. Communication delays mimic Mars. Artificial day-night cycles shift for lunar darkness or Martian drift. Water is strictly rationed. Gray water from showers flushes toilets. Bedrooms are capsule-sized. Hydroponic plants double as morale boosters. EVA operations take place on a 250-square-meter basalt-and-sand terrain accessed through a functional airlock.In this episode, Dr. Leszek Orzechowski shares how LunAres was born out of an ESA design competition, the steep early learning curve of running analog missions, how nearly 300 participants have navigated isolation inside the habitat, and what it means to simulate Moon and Mars missions in an urban yet sealed environment.We discuss crew selection, mission control oversight, communication delays, lunar versus Martian simulation differences, participation in the World’s Biggest Analog initiative, ESA-linked neuro studies, collaboration with aerospace agencies, and the surprising psychological power of growing plants in confinement.If we’re serious about settling other worlds, places like LunAres are where we learn how humans actually behave when the hatch closes.~A huge thank you to Leszek for joining me today and sharing his time and perspective, to Nick Thorburn for the stellar theme music, to Ceci Giglio for the incredible graphics, to Jero Squartini for the amazing animations, to RDan, Leila, Inka, and Carl for admining the Facebook group, and to my family for supporting this project even when space trivia finds its way into everyday life.

In this special Everyday Mars episode commemorating Mars Love Month, returning guest Dr. Simon Dubé joins Joe to explore one of the most surprising frontiers of space settlement: artificial companions. If Mars is going to be home — not just a research outpost — we’ll need more than life-support systems and radiation shielding. We’ll need emotional infrastructure.Simon is a researcher whose work sits at the intersection of love, sexuality, psychology, and emerging technology. Listeners may remember him from our conversation last year on Sex and Love on Mars. This time, we take things further, asking what role AI-driven companions, robotic intimacy, and emotionally responsive systems might play in long-duration missions.We discuss whether artificial partners are substitutes or supplements, how isolation changes human bonding, what happens to attachment in confined habitats, the ethics of emotional AI, and why the goal on Mars may not be to pass the Turing Test — but to pass the loneliness test.If we’re serious about building a civilization on Mars, we have to design for the heart as much as the body.~A huge thank you as well to Simon for joining me again and sharing his time and perspective, to Nick Thorburn for the stellar theme music, to Ceci Giglio for the incredible graphics, to Jero Squartini for the amazing animations, to RDan, Leila, Inka, and Carl for adminning the Facebook group, and to my family for supporting this project—even when space history gets unexpectedly sweet.The Media Equation: How People Treat Computers, Television, and New Media Like Real People and PlacesClifford Nass & Byron Reeves1996https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/media-equation/98C3C6F9F7E3B1C3B7C0A5A9C7A1E0B3Living with Seal Robots—Its Sociopsychological and Physiological Influences on the Elderly at a Care HouseKazuhiro Wada & Takanori Shibata2007https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/4200858The Effect of a Fully Automated Conversational Agent on Reducing Symptoms of Depression: A Randomized Controlled TrialKathleen K. Fitzpatrick, Alison Darcy & Molly Vierhile2017https://mental.jmir.org/2017/2/e19/Use of Social Robots in Mental Health and Well-Being Research: Systematic ReviewJiska A. S. Broekens, et al.2019https://www.jmir.org/2019/7/e13322/Building Long-Term Human–Robot Relationships: Examining Disclosure, Perception and Well-Being Across TimeGuy Laban, Arvid Kappas, Val Morrison & Emily S. Cross2023https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12369-023-01076-z

We're a community that is working, studying, building, training, and aspiring to become Martians someday. But what does it actually mean to become Martian?Not metaphorically. Biologically.In this surprise Everyday Mars episode, I sit down with evolutionary biologist Dr. Scott Solomon to talk about his brand-new book Becoming Martian and what life on Mars could do to our bodies, our children, and the future of our species.We talk radiation. Low gravity. Reproduction. Gene editing. Immune systems. Speciation. And the uncomfortable question: should we go at all?If being an aspiring Martian means doing the work — physically, emotionally, psychologically — then this episode is required listening.~A huge thank you to Scott for joining me today and sharing his time and perspective, to Nick Thorburn for the stellar theme music, to Ceci Giglio for the incredible graphics, to Jero Squartini for the amazing animations, to RDan, Leila, Inka, and Carl for adminning the Facebook group, and to my family for supporting this project—even when I start comparing interplanetary travel to reptile endurance.

After a brief detour into big philosophical questions — and the launch of our new Inside the Habitat series — Aspiring Martians returns to what it does best: real conversations with real people who are actively building their way toward Mars.In this episode, Joe is joined by Thendral Kamal, an aeronautical and astronautical engineering student at Purdue University with a minor in political science, and a résumé that already spans aircraft structural engineering at Delta Air Lines, satellite sustainability work in Washington, D.C., undergraduate research in aerospace reliability and international relations, and published astrophysics research.But this conversation goes far beyond credentials.Joe and Thendral talk about her early love of planetariums and astronomy, the importance of family and community support, winning a high-school payload competition that helped crystallize her path toward space, and what it means to “create your own luck” through discipline, curiosity, and saying yes before you feel ready. They also explore how policy, engineering, and global cooperation intersect in space exploration — and why those intersections matter for future Martian settlements.At its core, this episode is about preparation. About stacking skills. About believing that extraordinary futures are built through very ordinary, very intentional steps. And about Thendral’s long-term vision to one day become the first Indian woman to set foot on Mars.This is what becoming an Aspiring Martian really looks like.~A huge thank you to Thendral for joining metoday and sharing her story, to Nick Thorburn for the stellar theme music, to Ceci Giglio for the incredible graphics, to Jero Squartini for the amazing animations, to RDan, Leila, Inka, and Carl for admining the Facebook group, and to my family for supporting this project—even when I start thinking about what it means to be unreachable.

Inside the Habitat is a brand new series from Aspiring Martians that takes listeners behind the scenes of the analog simulations shaping humanity’s future on the Moon, Mars, and beyond. On the first Tuesday of every month, we will explore the many habitats scattered across deserts, cities, oceans, and even aircraft where we are testing the limits of human psychology, teamwork, and technology before attempting real off-world settlement.To kick off the series, Joe starts big with the World’s Biggest Analog, a first-of-its-kind global simulation that connected 16 habitats across 16 countries in a shared Mars mission. Rather than isolating one crew in one location, this ambitious project explored what planetary-scale collaboration might look like for future settlements.Joe is joined by Jas Purewal, Senior Scientist and the founder and Director of the World’s Biggest Analog, a role she somehow balances alongside her many others. Jas is also the co-founder and Director of the Analog Astronaut Community which brings together analog astronauts and researchers from around the world and will host its 5th Analog Astronaut Conference from April 30 to May 3, 2026, at Biosphere 2.In this conversation, we explore how the World’s Biggest Analog came together, what it revealed about global cooperation, and why analog missions are critical rehearsals for humanity’s next giant leap.Links:https://www.worldsbiggestanalog.com/https://www.analog-astronaut.com/The opportunity to integrate the International Guidelinesand Standards for Analogs during the World’s Biggest Analog was made possible through the generous support of J Trent Adams. A huge thank you as well to Jas Purewal for joining me today and sharing her time to talk about the World’s Biggest Analog, to Nick Thorburn for the stellar theme music, to Ceci Gigliofor the incredible graphics, to Jero Squartini for the amazing animations, to RDan, Leila, Inka, and Carl for admining the FB group, and to my family for even entertaining the idea that our daughters totally wouldn’t mind the 2 hourcommute to a Mars magnet school.

Christianity has spent two thousand years adapting to new cultures, continents, and ways of living. But what happens when the frontier is no longer Earth at all?In the finale of our Religion on Mars series, Joe Sweeney turns to Christianity — the world’s most practiced religion, with close to two billion followers and tens of thousands of denominations — to ask how faith might function on the Red Planet. To keep the conversation grounded, this episode focuses on Catholicism, one of Christianity’s oldest and largest traditions, with a global presence stretching from small rural parishes to the Vatican itself.Joe is joined by Father Andrew Pinsent , a Catholic priest, physicist, and philosopher, to explore how Christian belief, ritual, and authority might adapt in an off-world environment. Together, they discuss questions future Martian settlers would inevitably face: How do the sacraments work in space? What role do priests play when communication with Earth is delayed by minutes? How does Catholicism understand community, embodiment, and meaning in extreme isolation?The conversation also touches on Christianity’s long history of responding to unfamiliar and challenging environments, from deserts and monasteries to oceans and frontiers, and what that history suggests about faith beyond Earth. And stick around to the end, where Joe and Father Pinsent reflect on a question that lingers throughout the episode: how might Jesus himself feel about the idea of humans settling Mars?~A huge thank you to Fr. Andrew Pinsent for taking the time to lend me his speculative and sage wisdom, to Nick Thorburn for the epic theme music, to Ceci Giglio for the amazing graphics, to Jero Squartini for the incredible animations, to RDan, Leila, Inka, and Carl for admining the Facebook group, and to my family for letting me turn the dining room into a temple/mosque/church for the last month.

What happens to Islam when Earth is no longer beneath your feet?This episode is the third installment in Aspiring Martians’ January series exploring Religion on Mars, following conversations on Buddhism and Hinduism, and leading into next week’s series finale on Christianity.Joe is joined by Dr. Reza Aslan, a globally recognized scholar of religion, bestselling author, and public intellectual known for making complex religious history accessible and deeply human. Reza’s work focuses on Islam as a living tradition shaped by debate, migration, interpretation, and history rather than rigid doctrine.In this conversation, Joe and Reza explore how Islam might function on Mars by first grounding the discussion in its origins — how Islam spread through trade, scholarship, and governance, and how its decentralized authority structure shapes religious decision-making today. They dive into the Five Pillars of Islam and examine how daily prayer, fasting during Ramadan, charity, pilgrimage, and belief itself might adapt on a planet with different days, directions, and environmental constraints.The episode also explores Islam’s long relationship with astronomy, space, and scientific inquiry, including how Muslim scholars studied Mars centuries before modern telescopes, and how contemporary Muslim-majority nations are actively engaged in space exploration today. Along the way, they unpack why science fiction — especially Dune — draws so heavily from Islamic culture, language, and ideas of power, scarcity, and survival in harsh environments.Rather than asking whether Islam can “work” on Mars, this episode reframes the question entirely: what does a faith built on adaptability, intention, and community already understand about living meaningfully in extreme places?~A huge thank you to Reza for joining me on today’s episodeand sharing his incredible intellect and insights, to Nick Thorburn for the stellar theme music, to Ceci Giglio for the incredible graphics, to Jero Squartini for the amazing animations, to RDan, Leila, Inka, and Carl for admining the FB group, and to my family for putting up with my incessant Mars ramblings at all hours of the day.

This episode is the second installment in Aspiring Martians’ January series exploring Religion on Mars — and what happens to belief systems when Earth is no longer the center of human life.There are over 1.2 billion Hindus in the world today. To cover how such a prolific religion has lasted almost 4,000 years and what that future may hold on Mars, Joe is joined by Dr. Subhash Kak, a computer scientist, philosopher of science, and Vedic scholar whose work sits at the intersection of modern science and ancient Indian thought. Dr. Kak has published extensively on artificial intelligence, consciousness, cosmology, and Indian systems of knowledge, and recently co-authored Project Omega, a book exploring what future life across the solar system — including Mars — might realistically look like.Together, they explore how Hinduism’s vast sense of time, multiple worlds, and non-Earth-centric worldview translate naturally to space exploration. The conversation touches on the four aims of life (dharma, artha, kama, moksha), the role of deities as bridges to deeper philosophical ideas, Vedanta’s influence on modern physics, reincarnation on a cosmic scale, the red planet’s role in Hindu cosmology, how ancient belief systems and modern spaceflight quietly converged with India’s Mars mission, Mangalyaan, and why Hinduism tends to be remarkably comfortable with the idea that humans want to spread out into the cosmos.~Project Omega: The Future of Life in the Solar System - https://www.amazon.com/Project-Omega-Future-Solar-System/dp/8199391553A special thank you to Dr. Subhash Kak for joining me today and sharing his insight, to Nick Thorburn for the stellar theme music, to Ceci Giglio for the incredible graphics, to Jero Squartini for the amazing animations, to RDan, Leila, Inka, and Carl for admining the FB group, and to my family for letting me talk about Mars all the time.

Season Two of Aspiring Martians begins with a month-long Everyday Mars series exploring religion on Mars — and what happens to faith, meaning, and spiritual life when humans leave Earth.This first episode focuses on Buddhism, a tradition practiced by hundreds of millions of people worldwide and rooted in teachings on suffering, impermanence, mindfulness, and compassion. Joe is joined by Vasu Bandhu, a contemplative teacher working within a modern Buddhist-inspired tradition and a longtime leader in the global interfaith movement.Vasu Bandhu serves as Interfaith Manager for the Arizona Faith Network, is a member of the International Youth Committee of Religions for Peace, a Global Council Trustee for the United Religions Initiative, and Chair of the North American Interfaith Network. Since the age of 18, he has dedicated his life to interfaith service, eventually joining the Dhammapada Sangha after years of work across diverse religious traditions.In this conversation, Joe and Vasu Bandhu explore how Buddhist ideas like mindfulness, ethical responsibility, compassion, and acceptance of impermanence could shape spiritual life for future Martians — particularly in environments defined by isolation, confinement, and constant change.This episode sets the tone for a four-part series that continues next week with Hinduism on Mars, followed by Islam on January 20, and Christianity on January 27.~A huge thank you to Vasu Bandhu for joining me on today’s episode and sharing his perspective, to Nick Thorburn for the incredible theme music, to Ceci Giglio for the ever playful graphics, to Jero Squartini for the animations, to RDan, Leila, Inka, and Carl for admining the FB group, and to my family for being cool with there being another whole year of talking about Mars all the freakin time.

This week, Joe closes the season with an Everyday Mars conversation focused on something every future Martian — and every remote worker — will face: workplace anxiety and occupational health.To tackle this subject, we're joined by Dr. Craig Jackson, a leading occupational health psychologist whose research examines how work affects human psychological wellbeing, particularly in extreme, remote, and high-stress environments. Their conversation spans decades of research and real-world case studies, including incidents at Antarctic research bases, fatigue and burnout, psychological screening for astronauts and remote workers, and what happens when isolation and pressure compound over time.They also explore the overview effect, delayed communication, long working hours, and the psychological realities of confined, high-responsibility workplaces — drawing clear parallels between Earth-based analogs and future Mars missions.TRIGGER WARNING: This episode briefly touches on the subject of suicide from 21:00 to 27:20. Please feel free to skip this section if you prefer. The episode also serves as a moment of reflection and gratitude. It’s a grounded, thoughtful close to a season dedicated to the human stories behind the dream of living on Mars. We are deeply grateful for your engagement and support this past year as we have dived into the lives of aspiring Martians the covered topics that future Mars settlers will be most interested in. We're profoundly excited to show you what's next in Season 2!~A huge thank you to Dr. Craig Jackson for joining me todayand sharing his expertise and time, to Nick Thorburn for the absolute banger ofa theme song, to Ceci Giglio for the incredible graphics, to RDan, Leila, Inka,and Carl for admining the FB group, and to my family for supporting thisproject — even when Mars becomes a full-time dinner conversation.Research:Workplace Anxiety,Isolation, Polar & Extreme EnvironmentsPalinkas, L. A., & Suedfeld, P. (2008)The Lancethttps://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17655924/Palinkas, L. A. (2003)American Psychologisthttps://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12784972/Antarctic Harassment& Safety ClimateU.S. National Science Foundation – Office of Polar Programs(July 2024)https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2024/nsf24586/nsf24586.pdfSuicide Risk, SleepDisruption & Remote WorkBernert, R. A., et al. (2007)Sleep Medicine Reviewshttps://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17368981/Pigeon, W. R., et al. (2020)Scientific Reportshttps://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-70866-6Fatigue, CircadianMisalignment & Extreme WorkParkes, K. R. (2017)Safety Sciencehttps://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925753517300957Arendt, J., et al. (2022)Nature and Science of Sleephttps://www.dovepress.com/the-role-of-circadian-phase-in-sleep-and-performance-during-antarctic–peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-NSSDelayedCommunication, Autonomy & Mars MissionsNASA Ames Research Center (2025)https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/20250003885/downloads/NASA%20TM20250003885.pdfKanas, N., et al. (2015)Acta Astronauticahttps://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0094576514003996O’Leary, M. B., Wilson, J. M., & Metiu, A. (2014)Organization Sciencehttps://pubsonline.informs.org/doi/10.1287/orsc.2013.0876Gibbs, J. L., et al. (2021)Annual Review of Organizational Psychology andOrganizational Behaviorhttps://www.annualreviews.org/doi/10.1146/annurev-orgpsych-012420-060248Mars &Spaceflight Analog MissionsBasner, M., et al. (2014)Proceedings of the National Academy of Scienceshttps://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.1403716111NASA Human Research Programhttps://humanresearchroadmap.nasa.gov/evidence/Trauma, IntrusiveMemories & Tetris StudiesHolmes, E. A., et al. (2009)PLoS ONEhttps://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0004153Overview Effect, Awe& Perspective ShiftYaden, D. B., et al. (2016)Psychology of Consciousnesshttps://psycnet.apa.org/record/2016-17436-001

Hope you're prepared for a conversation that is as honest as it is powerful.In this week's episode, Joe sits down with Lina Borozdina where she shares what brought her to space aboard Virgin Galactic, but this discussion goes far beyond the mechanics of spaceflight. Together, they explore the emotional reality of chasing a space dream in public and the resilience required to keep going in the face of dismissive, hurtful, and often cruel commentary from those who would rather see that dream disappear.The conversation also touches on Lina’s deep commitment to inspiring the next generation of kids, the responsibility that comes with visibility, and the quiet strength demonstrated by women who refuse to make themselves smaller, even when the world asks them to.It’s a vulnerable, moving conversation about courage, representation, and choosing to dream anyway.This episode marks the final personal story of Season One of Aspiring Martians — a season dedicated to exploring the deeply human stories behind people with a very real dream of living on Mars someday. Stay tuned for next week's final episode of Season 1 with an all new Everyday Mars episode you won't want to miss!~A huge thank you to Lina for joining me today and sharing her story, to Nick Thorburn for the amazing theme music, to Ceci Giglio for the incredible graphics, to RDan, Leila, Inka, and Carl for admining the FB group, and to my family for letting me talk about Mars far more often than is probably reasonable.

This week on Aspiring Martians, Joe sits down with Dr. Kshitij Mall, an assistant professor at the University of South Alabama and director of the BRAHMAND Lab whose work sits at the cutting edge of propulsion, plasma-assisted flows, and extreme-environment engineering.Kshitij is one of the minds behind Mission ShakthiSAT, a low-cost lunar transfer and micro-lander and program dedicated to empowering thousands of girls around the globe to develop their interest in space. His work asks a big question: what if space exploration didn’t require billion-dollar budgets to matter?Joe and Kshitij talk about what it means to be an aspiring Martian while still firmly rooted on Earth, his inspiration along the way, and why education and inclusion are just as important as rockets when it comes to building our future off-world.~A huge thank you to Kshitij for joining me today and sharing his incredible story and ambition, to Nick Thorburn for our stellar theme music, to Ceci Giglio for the beautiful graphics, to RDan, Leila, Inka, and Carl for admining the FB group, and to my family for always supporting this journey—even when my curiosity drifts toward doomed moons.

This week on Aspiring Martians, Joe sits down with Dr. Adriana Marais: theoretical physicist, astrobiologist, disruptor, explorer, and one of the most compelling voices shaping the future of human settlement beyond Earth.Adriana’s scientific background spans quantum effects in biology, the origins of life’s building blocks in space, and award-winning work in quantum biology. She’s a Director at the Foundation for Space Development Africa and the Head of Science for Africa2Moon, Africa’s first lunar mission — a first-of-its-kind radio telescope headed for the south pole aboard China’s Chang’e-8 mission.She’s also the founder of Proudly Human, leading the ambitious Off-World Project, which tests autonomous, resilient living systems in the harshest environments on Earth — deserts, icefields, remote regions — as analogs for future off-world communities. Her work has been featured in CNN’s Africa’s Space Race, AOL’s Citizen Mars, Before Mars, and hundreds of talks across all seven continents. She was recently honored as “Most Disruptive” at the Women in Tech Global Awards in Paris.Joe and Adriana dive into quantum biology, off-world economics, resilience, the philosophy of exploration, Africa’s growing influence in space, and why extreme Earth environments may hold the key to not just surviving, but thriving on Mars.~A huge thank you to Adriana for joining me today and sharing her unique perspective, to Nick Thorburn for our stellar theme music, to Ceci Giglio for the beautiful graphics, to RDan, Leila, Inka, and Carl for admining the FB group, and to my family for always supporting this mission!

This week on Aspiring Martians, Joe sits down with Keisha Schahaff, a trailblazer whose journey has inspired millions across the Caribbean and beyond. Keisha made history as the first Caribbean woman in space, flying aboard Virgin Galactic’s Galactic 02 mission, where she and her daughter became the first mother-daughter duo to reach space together.Keisha talks about what her flight gave her: the shift in perspective, the overwhelming emotion of seeing Earth from above, and the sense of possibility that stayed with her long after she touched down. She shares how the experience strengthened her connection to her home in Antigua and Barbuda, and why that moment of weightlessness ignited something even bigger: a dream of living on Mars someday.Joe and Keisha discuss identity, courage, community, and what it means to carve a path for people who have never seen themselves represented in space. It’s a conversation full of warmth, joy, and that rare kind of hope that makes you believe new worlds aren’t just reachable — they’re inevitable.~A huge thank you to Keisha for joining me today and sharing her incredible and powerful story, to Nick Thorburn for our stellar theme music, to Ceci Giglio for the beautiful graphics, to RDan, Leila, Inka, and Carl for admining the Facebook group, and to my family for always supporting this mission — even when I start cheering for dust devils.

This November — the month of elections here in the USA — we’re taking the spirit of civic engagement off-world.In this Everyday Mars special, Joe talks with Dr. Kelly Weinersmith, an author, researcher, and one of the sharpest, funniest minds thinking about the future of space settlement. Kelly and her husband Zach wrote A City on Mars, a book that takes a wildly entertaining, deeply researched look at the realities of living off-planet. It covers everything from lunar land claims to cosmic law enforcement to the political structures that might keep a Mars colony from descending into either chaos or paperwork.And yes — there is an entire section on governing on Mars.Together, Joe and Kelly dig into the government models that might emerge on the Red Planet, which ones might fall apart instantly, what history already warns us about, and why the earliest decisions could shape Martian society for generations. It’s thoughtful, funny, and surprisingly grounding. Exactly the kind of episode that reminds you that space is not just about rockets, but about people.~~A huge thank you to Kelly for joining me today and sharing their hilarious and thought-provoking insights. And if you haven’t already, grab a copy of their book A City on Mars: https://www.acityonmars.com/Thanks as always to Nick Thorburn for our stellar theme music, to Ceci Giglio for the beautiful graphics, to RDan, Leila, Inka, and Carl for admining the FB group, and to my family for always supporting this mission — even when dinner talk drifts into real estate opportunities on a far away moon."Frontier Culture: The Roots and Persistence of “Rugged Individualism” in the United States: https://www.nber.org/system/files/working_papers/w23997/w23997.pdfFrontier Settlement and the Spatial Variation of Civic Institutions: https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/items/76f8393b-7f33-4433-a7e0-de204bec7ab5Off-Earth by Erika Nesvold: https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262047548/off-earth/

This week on Aspiring Martians, Joe sits down with Dr. Shawna Pandya, the first named female commercial Canadian astronaut — and one of the most fascinating humans you’ll ever hear from.She’s an emergency and aeromedical transport physician, an aquanaut, a blackbelt, and the Director of the IIAS Space Medicine Group, where she leads research into how humans adapt to the most extreme environments imaginable — underwater, in microgravity, and someday, on Mars. She’s preparing to fly to space aboard Virgin Galactic’s Delta class spacecraft as early as 2026, and her work is permanently exhibited at the Ontario Science Centre beside Dr. Roberta Bondar.Joe and Dr. Pandya dive into what it means to push human boundaries, the delicate balancing act of avoiding burnout, and how curiosity, compassion, and courage continue to guide her every step — or giant leap.~A huge thank you to Dr. Shawna Pandya for joining me today and sharing her inspiring perspective, to Nick Thorburn for our stellar theme music, to Ceci Giglio for the beautiful graphics, to RDan, Leila, Inka, and Carl for admining the FB group, and to my family for always supporting this mission — even when I start researching real estate on uninhabited Arctic islands.

This week on Aspiring Martians, Joe talks with Sahda Haroon — a space advocate, STEM communicator, and unstoppable force for representation and empowerment in science.Sahda’s story is one of courage, curiosity, and contagious passion. She’s been part of the Mars Generation, a leader in the STEAM Squad, and a voice reminding us that diversity in space exploration isn’t just nice to have — it’s essential. Her journey is proof that when one person dares to stand out, it creates space for others to step forward too.In this conversation, Joe and Sahda talk about the power of representation, convincing your family to believe in your space dreams, and what it means to be a rebel who does what others won’t. They dive into breaking cultural traditions, giving your daughter wings to fly, and how a single speech can ripple across continents. Plus: exploding habitats, the Mars Generation, and why surrounding yourself with people who remind you of your “why” might be the most powerful decision you ever make.~A huge thank you to Sahda for joining me today and sharing her incredible passion and work, to Nick Thorburn for our stellar theme music, to Ceci Giglio for the beautiful graphics, to RDan, Leila, Inka, and Carl for admining the FB group, and to my family for always supporting this journey — even when my vacation plans start sounding suspiciously like Mars training.

This week on Aspiring Martians, Joe sits down with Ilia-Daniel Gashinbaki — a 17-year-old Nigerian space visionary and the Executive Director and Founder of the Africa Space Foundation.Daniel’s story started when he was just 11 years old, chosen by Nigeria’s National Space Research and Development Agency as one of the nation’s Space Ambassadors. That experience sparked a lifelong mission: to bring space science and education to communities across Africa and ensure that the continent plays an active role in humanity’s future beyond Earth.Now, as the head of the Africa Space Foundation, Daniel is leading programs that connect young people with science and technology, host hack-a-thons, and promote collaboration within and beyond Africa. His work is a reminder that leadership isn’t about age — it’s about vision.In this episode, Joe and Daniel talk about what to do with the privilege you have, the power of cooperation over competition, and how African innovation can help shape Mars exploration. They also dive into solar rovers, budget realities, community pride, and why Daniel sees bringing space to Africans not as a dream — but as a responsibility.A huge thank you to Daniel for joining me today and sharing his energy and perspective, to Nick Thorburn for our stellar theme music, to Ceci Giglio for the beautiful graphics, to RDan, Leila, Inka, and Carl for admining the FB group, and to my family for always supporting this mission — even when I start calling parts of Africa ‘mini Mars.’

Food keeps us alive — but it also keeps us human.In this Everyday Mars episode, Joe talks with Dr. Flávia Fayet-Moore, or Dr. Flav, a scientist, entrepreneur, and space nutritionist who’s making the future of food exciting again — on Earth and beyond it.Dr. Flav is the founder and CEO of FOODiQ Global, co-founder of Food is Cool, and an alum of the International Space University’s Space Studies Program. Her work blends nutritional science, genomics, sustainability, and a serious passion for making food fun.Together, Joe and Dr. Flav dig into what astronauts are eating right now (spoiler: lots of pouches), why nutrition gets weird in microgravity, and how long-duration Mars missions will push us to rethink how we grow, store, and enjoy food. They also explore how what we learn for Mars could make eating better and living healthier easier for everyone here on Earth.So whether you’re a future Martian farmer or just someone trying to keep your plants alive — this one’s for you.A huge thank you to Dr. Flav for joining me today and sharing her insights on nutrition in space, to Nick Thorburn for our stellar theme music, to Ceci Giglio for the beautiful graphics, to RDan, Leila, Inka, and Carl for admining the Fcebook group, and to my family for always supporting this mission — even when the kitchen experiments start looking a little too astronaut-ready.For our episode on Pets on Mars: https://www.aspiringmartians.com/episodes/everyday-mars-pets-on-marsCheck out some more weird sheep facts in our Clothing on Mars episode: https://www.aspiringmartians.com/episodes/everyday-mars-fashionDr. Flav's paper "A food "lifeboat": food and nutrition considerations in the event of a pandemic or other catastrophe": https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18072916/

This week on Aspiring Martians, we’re doing something special.Just before the government shutdown, NASA worked with us to make sure we could sit down with members of the CHAPEA 2 crew — and two days after the hatch sealed, those interviews are now here.The CHAPEA 2 mission officially began on October 19, 2025, when four volunteers — Ross Elder, Ellen Ellis, Matthew Montgomery, and James Spicer — entered NASA’s Mars Dune Alpha habitat at Johnson Space Center in Houston. For the next 378 days, they’ll live and work as though they’re on Mars, facing communication delays, isolation, limited resources, and simulated spacewalks — all to help NASA understand how humans might live and thrive on the Red Planet.In this exclusive double episode, Joe speaks first with Matthew Montgomery, CHAPEA 2’s Science Officer — a hardware engineer from Los Angeles whose work spans robotics, lighting systems, and controlled environment agriculture. Then, in part two, Joe talks with James Spicer, the mission’s Flight Engineer — a technical director with deep experience in spacecraft systems, satellite communications, and aerospace design.Together, they discuss how their love of science and exploration began, what it’s like to commit to a full year of isolation, how they see the future of Mars exploration, and what keeps them motivated when the sky overhead is simulated and Earth is just a signal delay away.It’s an inspiring look at the people helping pave the path to Mars — from inside a habitat built for the future.A huge thank you to Matthew and James for joining me today and sharing their insights and imagination, to Kelsey over at NASA for coordinating all of this, to Nick Thorburn for our stellar theme music, to Ceci Giglio for the beautiful graphics, to RDan, Leila, Inka, and Carl for admining the FB group, and to my family for always supporting this journey — even when the dinner table becomes a Mars landing debate.

This week on Aspiring Martians, Joe talks with Dr. Dianne McGrath — explorer, sustainability expert, and one of the final 100 Mars One astronaut candidates.Dianne grew up in the wide open stretches of the Australian Outback, where curiosity was her first compass. That same spirit carried her from studying environmental engineering and food sustainability to applying for a one-way mission to Mars — and, just for good measure, sailing around the world in the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race.In their conversation, Joe and Dianne talk about what it means to grow up surrounded by vastness, the power of curiosity to guide a life, and what Mars One taught her about humanity’s limits and hopes. They also explore the strange, beautiful parallels between being alone in the middle of the ocean and being alone in space — where your closest neighbors might be the crew of the International Space Station passing silently overhead.A huge thank you to Dianne for joining me today and sharing her incredible journey and perspective, to Nick Thorburn for our stellar theme music, to Ceci Giglio for the beautiful graphics, to RDan, Leila, Inka, and Carl for admining the FB group, and to my family for always supporting this mission—even when it involves talking about imaginary space monsters over dinner.

This week on Aspiring Martians, Joe talks with Alejandro Perez — a biomedical engineer turned space educator whose energy is strong enough to replace your morning espresso.Alejandro’s path started in Connecticut, where he grew up obsessed with how both nature and machines worked. He’s studied tissue engineering, led human stress experiments, worked on Martian regolith and plant genetics research with NASA’s CASIS division, built agricultural robotics for Mars, and now teaches kids and visitors about space at the Kennedy Space Center.In this conversation, Joe and Alejandro talk about inspecting diesel tanks, emotional Milky Way moments, and what it really means to be a shark. They dive into the value of good mentors, driving your dream forward even when no one’s cheering you on, harnessing the “radiation power of a black hole,” and how Mars might just help us make life better back on Earth.A huge thank you to Alejandro for joining me today and sharing his incredible energy and curiosity, to Nick Thorburn for our stellar theme music, to Ceci Giglio for the beautiful graphics, to RDan, Leila, Inka, and Carl for admining the FB group, and to my family for always supporting this journey, even when it means making me avgolemono to chase this stupid cold away.

In this Everyday Mars special, Joe explores a question that’s equal parts science and heart: which pets might one day travel with us to Mars?Last month we looked at dogs and cats, and why they’re unlikely to be early spacefarers. This month we turn to everything else — from goldfish that bred successfully in orbit to quail chicks hatched on Mir, from cockroaches conceived in space to tortoises that circled the Moon. We trace the long history of animal spaceflight and consider what it tells us about companionship, resilience, and wellbeing for future settlers.To make sense of it all, Joe is joined by Dr. Jamie Foster, Full Professor at the University of Florida’s Department of Microbiology and Cell Science. Dr. Foster has conducted multiple experiments on the Space Shuttle and ISS, studying how microgravity impacts microbes and their animal hosts, and how engineered microbes could help keep astronauts healthy during long missions. She also leads initiatives that connect research, startups, and commercial launch providers to bring the benefits of space biomanufacturing back to Earth.Together, they explore why pets aren’t just cute companions, but potentially powerful tools for stress relief and mental health during the most extreme journey humanity has ever attempted.A huge thank you to Dr. Jamie Foster for joining me today and sharing her expertise, to Nick Thorburn for our stellar theme music, to Ceci Giglio for the beautiful graphics, to RDan, Leila, Inka, and Carl for admining the FB group, and to my family for always supporting this mission—even when it means hearing me get excited about sea monkeys on Mars.

This week on Aspiring Martians, Joe talks with Rachel Lyons — aerospace engineer, leadership coach, and former Executive Director of Space for Humanity. Today, she runs EarthRise Leadership, where she fuses her background in aerospace and economics with a passion for helping people step into who they want to be — on Earth and beyond.Rachel’s work has been featured on CNN, NPR, and stages around the world, but her story goes deeper than the résumé. In our conversation, she opens up about taking the reins of leadership at a young age, the spark she found watching Cosmos, and the lessons she’s learned about team cohesion, self-care, and forging ahead even when support isn’t guaranteed. We also dig into why humility will shape our future on Mars — and how preparing to live off-world is really about becoming more than we are right now.A huge thank you to Rachel Lyons for joining me today and sharing her incredible perspective, to Nick Thorburn for our stellar theme music, to Ceci Giglio for the beautiful graphics, to RDan, Leila, Inka, and Carl for admining he FB group, and to my family for always supporting this journey—even when the topic at the table becomes fossilized microbial leftovers.

This week on Aspiring Martians, Joe talks with Sergii Iakymov — aerospace engineer, Mars One 100 finalist, and the Director of the Mars Desert Research Station in Utah.Born in Germany, raised in Ukraine, and now splitting his time between Utah and California, Sergii has spent over 15 years designing, testing, and leading in aerospace and exploration. He’s managed crews in the Utah desert, joined a 45-day HERA mission in Houston, and helped shape some of the most active Mars analog projects in the world.In our conversation, Sergii shares what it was like to be part of the Mars One 100, how his background in aviation and cosmonautics led him to analog research, and what he’s learned about human resilience from both directing missions and serving as crew. We also dive into the lessons from living in confinement, why international collaboration matters, and how Martian settlement isn’t only about surviving on another world — it’s about building better ways to live right here at home.A huge thank you to Sergii Iakymov for joining me today and sharing his remarkable story, to Nick Thorburn for our stellar theme music, to Ceci Giglio for the beautiful graphics, to RDan, Leila, Inka, and Carl for adminin the FB group and to my family for always supporting this mission—even when I pitch Utah vacations to them at the dinner table.

This week on Aspiring Martians, Joe talks with Josh Richards — a physicist, former Australian Army and UK Royal Marine commando, cave diver, writer, and one of the most visible Mars One finalists.Josh’s background is extraordinary: growing up in a military family, serving in multiple branches of the armed forces, and even turning to comedy as a way of processing the scars of service. In our conversation, he shares candidly about his PTSD, why he walked away from the military, and how he found healing through comedy, storytelling, exploration, and a vision of humanity among the stars.We cover everything from what it was like to grow up thinking space was out of reach for an Australian kid, to how a single song in a London flat reignited his childhood dream, to the philosophy that drives him to keep exploring — whether that’s signing up for Mars or crawling through flooded caves in South Australia.This is a conversation about space, yes — but more than that, it’s about resilience, visibility, and what it means to keep moving forward after hardship.A huge thank you to Josh Richards for joining me today and sharing his energy and perspective, to Nick Thorburn for our stellar theme music, to Ceci Giglio for the beautiful graphics, to RDan, Leila, Inka, and Carl for admining the Facebook Group, and to my family for always supporting this journey—even when the dinner table turns into a Mars trivia contest.For more information on the Soggy Wombats, check out their YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@soggywombat

This week on Aspiring Martians, I talk with Olanrewaju Paul Oladunni — a pioneer in Africa’s space advocacy movement and the Founder and Regional President of Space Tourism Society Africa.Paul’s journey started with a simple dream: bringing people closer to the stars. From founding one of Nigeria’s first space clubs in the early 2000s to representing Africa at the global level with Space Renaissance International, he’s worked tirelessly to make sure the continent isn’t just a passenger in humanity’s journey to space — but a leader.In this conversation, Paul shares how he connects the vision of a spacefaring Africa with the fight against poverty, how grassroots movements can transform lives, and why he believes the cosmos belongs to everyone.A huge thank you to Paul Oladunni for joining me today and sharing his incredible perspective, to Nick Thorburn for our stellar theme music, to Ceci Giglio for the beautiful graphics, to RDan, Leila, Inka, and Carl for admining the FB group, and to my family for always supporting this journey—even when it turns into late-night research on Martian maps.

Dogs have been humanity’s companions for thousands of years—guardians, workers, comforters, and beloved family members. But what about Mars?In this special Everyday Mars episode, released in honor of International Dog Day, I sat down with Dr. Clive Wynne, ethologist at Arizona State University and author of Dog Is Love: Why and How Your Dog Loves You. Dr. Wynne is one of the foremost experts on the behavior of dogs and their wild relatives, and together we explored the question: will humans one day share life on Mars with their canine companions?We talked about the history of dogs in space—over 50 launched through the Soviet program, with names like Squirrel, Little Arrow, and Laika the “barker.” Then we turned to the practical and ethical questions of taking dogs to Mars: Could they adapt to the conditions? Would their companionship help future settlers thrive? And what does our bond with dogs say about the kind of society we’ll build off Earth?This episode is part science, part philosophy, and part love letter to our best friends—and what role they might play in humanity’s Martian future.A huge thank you to Dr. Clive Wynne for joining me today and sharing his insight into the human-canine bond, to Nick Thorburn for our stellar theme music, to Ceci Giglio for the beautiful graphics, to RDan, Leila, Inka, and Carl for admining the FB group, and to my family for always supporting this journey—even when it takes a detour into Cold War dog tales.

This week on Aspiring Martians, I spoke with Rahaf Adi, the first Syrian woman to graduate with a space engineering degree. Rahaf’s journey has taken her from childhood dreams of building rockets to designing real experiments bound for space, including work at Purdue’s legendary Zucrow Labs on thrust-vectored engines. She was even chosen as the Banner Bearer for Purdue’s College of Engineering, leading the graduation procession with well-earned pride.We talked about breaking new ground for women in aerospace, designing for spaceflight, the grit it takes to carve a path when none seems available, and how she’s motivated by the idea of not wanting to disappoint her future mentees—which pushes her to strive for her very best today. This conversation is about determination, identity, mentorship, and the long view of what it means to chase Mars while inspiring those who will come after you.A huge thank you to Rahaf Adi for joining me today and sharing her vision and voice, to Nick Thorburn for our stellar theme music, to Ceci Giglio for the beautiful graphics, to RDan, Leila, Inka, and Carl for admining the FB group, and to my family for always supporting this journey—even when the dinner table turns into a planetary history lesson.

Mohammed Sallam’s path to becoming one of the 100 finalists in the Mars One program started in Cairo in the 1980s, with a love of sci-fi films and the quiet wonder of staring at the night sky. Decades later, a news article calling for Mars settlers in the wake of the Arab Spring set him on a course that would change his life.In this episode, Mido shares what it’s like to grow up in Egypt dreaming of the stars, how a period of upheaval led him to buy his first telescope, and the ways he now inspires students through his Saturn V Space Club and other educational projects. We talk Arab diversity in space, the realities of preparing for a one-way trip, and his hopes for humanity’s future on Mars. Along the way, you’ll hear stories about late night Mars study sessions, preparing for his pilot license, losing and finding purpose, and why he’s ready to plant an Egyptian badge—if not an actual flag—on the Red Planet.A huge thank you to Mohammed Sallam for joining me today and sharing his vision and story, to Nick Thorburn for our stellar theme music, to Ceci Giglio for the beautiful graphics, to RDan, Leila, Inka, and Carl for admining the FB group, and to my family for always supporting this mission—even if it means eating dinner on Mars time.

In 2006, more than 36,000 South Koreans applied to become the nation’s first astronaut. After a grueling selection process that tested everything from physical endurance to scientific reasoning, just two were chosen to train in Russia. One of them was Dr. Yi Soyeon—an engineer, a pioneer, and ultimately, the woman who would make history aboard the Soyuz in 2008.In this conversation, Soyeon shares what it was like growing up in a culture that didn’t traditionally encourage girls to dream of space. We talked about the power of saying "let's try it," about the similarities between dorm room life and Russian military bases, and the mental resilience it takes to be a trailblazer. We also dove into how her mission reshaped her outlook on Earth, how she answers young girls' questions about space, and her hopes for humanity’s future on Mars.A heartfelt thank you to Dr. Yi Soyeon for joining me today and sharing her powerful story as a pioneer, scientist, and dreamer, to Nick Thorburn for our uplifting theme music, to Ceci Giglio for the beautiful graphics, to RDan, Leila, Inka, and Carl for admining he FB group, and to my family for supporting this project—even when it turns into late-night Mars rabbit holes.

When we dream of Mars, we often picture the big stuff: rockets, habitats, astronauts planting flags. But what about the day-to-day grind of running a business on another planet? In this special Everyday Mars episode, I spoke with aerospace veteran Jim Cantrell—one of the original team members at SpaceX and now the CEO and co-founder of Phantom Space Corporation—about what it’s going to take to build not just a civilization, but an economy, on Mars.Jim brings decades of experience launching real ventures, from moon landers to microsats, and now he’s turning his entrepreneurial gaze toward the Red Planet. We explore what kinds of businesses will come first, what investors need to understand about Martian logistics, and what lessons we can borrow from Earth's startup ecosystem. We also dig into launch windows, robotic middle class, quitting our job after being at sea for a month, Martian bakeries, the importance of the frontier, Jim's tips to future Martian entrepreneurs, why building a business might be harder than building a satellite, and how walking the walk is more important than talking the talk.A huge thank you to Jim Cantrell for joining me today and bringing his trailblazing perspective to the conversation, to Nick Thorburn for our high-flying theme music, to Ceci Giglio for the beautiful graphics, to RDan, Leila, Inka, and Carl for admining the Facebook group, and to my family for supporting this vision—even when my browser tabs are full of asteroid mining articles.

This week on Aspiring Martians, I speak with Anastasia Medvedeva—a Moscow-based space communicator, event organizer, and the force behind Yuri’s Night Russia. Anastasia’s story begins with a childhood spark: a signed book from Valentina Tereshkova and the poetic notion that if a seagull can go anywhere, so can she. That metaphor turned into a mission—using media, parties, and pop culture to bridge the gap between the space industry and the everyday dreamers it should serve.We talk about the moment she realized space needs storytellers just as much as scientists, how she crafted a version of Yuri’s Night for a wider audience, and why space events should be equal parts education and celebration. Anastasia also opens up about the challenges of inspiring people in tough times, how to explain Mars without PowerPoints, and why building community might be humanity’s greatest preparation for the stars. Along the way: rainstorms in Milan, space debris awareness before it was cool, the ethics of colonization, and what it means to stay fascinated—even when the universe is complicated.

This week, I had the pleasure of speaking with Dr. Jonathan Buzan, an atmospheric physicist and planetary habitability researcher whose journey to Mars science started not with a telescope, but with a well-worn copy of SolarQuest which was this epic monopoly style board game where players would travel around the Sun acquiring monopolies of planets, moons, and space structures trying to knock their opponents out of the game through bankruptcy, as well as the occasional laser blast. That early spark led to video games like SimEarth, a fascination with climate extremes, and eventually, a PhD in atmospheric physics and biothermophysics from Purdue University. Since then, he’s held research positions at institutions like the University of New Hampshire, the University of Bern, and now Aalborg University in Denmark, where he works at the intersection of computational physics, sustainability modeling, and planetary systems science.In this episode, we dove into his experience as the GreenHab Officer for Crew 218 at the Mars Desert Research Station, the surprising emotional highs and lows of simulation life, how heat stress and planetary climates shape our understanding of habitability, the scandanavian huddling mindset, controlling for randomness, the importance of redundancy, taking the bad with the good, connections to the past, dehydrated cuisine, the absolute workout of preparing an exquisite Martian beshumel sauce, and why space research still feels like play—even when it’s deadly serious.A huge thank you to Dr. Jonathan Buzan for joining me today and sharing his insight and curiosity, to Nick Thorburn for our stellar theme music, to Ceci Giglio for the beautiful graphics, to RDan, Leila, Inka, and Carl for admining the FB group, and to my family for supporting this adventure—even when the house turns into a sound lab for Martian acoustics.

This week on Aspiring Martians, I sat down with Linh Vu—also known as Quoc Anh—the only Vietnamese finalist among the Mars One program’s top 100. With degrees from the National University of Singapore and Columbia University, Linh blends curiosity, ambition, and a deep desire to explore what lies beyond Earth. Today, he lives in Hanoi and proudly calls himself a Martian-in-waiting.We talk about the realities of pursuing a dream that most people consider impossible. Linh shares how he balances startup life with space dreams, how he’s navigated public perception, and why he's not trying to convince anyone—he’s just focused on doing. From hydroponic vegetables to Vietnamese pride, CV drop-ins to emotional goodbyes, it’s a conversation about bold moves, quiet confidence, and preparing for the long journey ahead.A huge thank you to Linh Vu for joining me today and sharing his thoughtful, daring perspective, to Nick Thorburn for our stellar theme music, to Ceci Giglio for the beautiful graphics, to RDan, Leila, Inka, and Carl for admining the Facebook group, and to my family for supporting this mission—even when it wanders into 18th-century star maps.

This week on Aspiring Martians, I’m joined by Dr. Saeed Ghandhari, a former Mars One 100 finalist, community builder, refugee advocate, martial artist, and aspiring astronaut originally from Iran and now based in Auckland, New Zealand. Saeed’s journey is a remarkable blend of public service and personal ambition—he’s worked for over a decade in Iran’s parliament, helped countless migrants and Māori navigate life in New Zealand, and holds a PhD in International Relations. Not one to slow down, he recently applied for a six-year medical science degree—because... why not?In this conversation, we explore what it means to never give up on your dream, even when the path takes unexpected detours. We talk about the value of being unpredictable, his paper on black holes, waiting on Roscosmos, and building hope through Mars One. Also: team dynamics, asteroid indecision, dinosaur contingency plans, space soldiers, Martian toilet innovation, and the importance of keeping a packed Mars bag—just in case.A huge thank you to Dr. Saeed Ghandhari for joining me today and sharing his powerful story and perspective, to Nick Thorburn for our stellar theme music, to Ceci Giglio for the beautiful graphics, to RDan, Leila, Inka, and Carl for admining the Facebook group, and to my family for always supporting this journey—even when it detours into orbital trivia.

In this month’s Everyday Mars episode, I sat down with one of the most influential voices in Mars advocacy—Dr. Robert Zubrin, founder of The Mars Society and author of The Case for Mars, The Case for Space, and The New World on Mars. For decades, Zubrin has been championing the idea that humans not only can go to Mars, but should. And in this conversation, we ask a simple but profound question: What is The Right Martian Stuff?We dig into the character traits, skill sets, and cultural mindsets he believes the first Martian settlers will need—not just to survive, but to thrive. Spoiler: it’s less about military order and more about maverick spirit, humor under pressure, and a healthy dose of DIY ingenuity. We also talk about what kind of society might grow out of that environment—and what lessons Earth might learn in return.Thank you to Dr. Zubrin for making the time for this chat and for his expertise, to Nick Thorburn for the theme music, to Ceci Giglio for the graphics, to RDan, Leila, Inka, and Carl for admining the Facebook group, and to my family for supporting all of this.

In this episode of Aspiring Martians, I’m joined by Sharife Gacel, a licensed therapist, analog astronaut, NASA/JPL Solar System Ambassador, and the creator of The Space Therapist and the Blue Marble Project. Sharife’s work brings together psychology, art, and space exploration to help people build emotional resilience here on Earth—and someday, on Mars. She believes that the perspective shift astronauts feel when seeing Earth from space can be a healing force, and she’s spent years helping others connect to that feeling through outreach, therapy, and awe-driven storytelling.We talk about the emotional challenges of space travel, what representation looks like in the space world, and how something as simple as looking through a telescope can rewire your whole sense of purpose. We also cover her underwater origin stories, the wonders of astronomy clubs, exploration genes, spacesuit cardboard cutouts, Martian domes in Hawaii, representing by showing up, and finding motivation through the lens of a telescope.

This week, I talk with Bill Bell, a high school Earth and Space Science teacher from Payden City, West Virginia, who grew up pretending his dad’s orange hunting vest was an astronaut suit. Decades later, he found himself as a finalist in the AXE Apollo Space Academy, training alongside over 100 other aspiring astronauts from around the globe, hoping to earn a suborbital flight to space. We talk about that once-in-a-lifetime experience, and how it shaped not just his career, but the way he teaches and inspires the next generation of explorers.We also dive into the messy middle of chasing big dreams—college setbacks, Navy rejections, and finding your calling in the classroom instead of the cockpit. Bill’s story is one of resilience, curiosity, and the quiet courage it takes to keep dreaming even when the world tries to hand you a smaller one.A heartfelt thank you to Bill Bell for joining me and sharing his story, to Nick Thorburn for our stellar theme music, to Ceci Giglio for the beautiful graphics, to RDan, Leila, Inka, and Carl for admining the Facebook group, and to my family for always supporting this Martian journey—even when it becomes a full-time mission control in our house.This episode is dedicated to Bill's father, Vincent. To infinity and beyond.