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.

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 his new, Cosmic Odyssey Scholarship, Niko is helping to send pediatric cancer patients and their families to Space Camp.

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)! 

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.

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.

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 own space-themed recorder music.

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 episode of the Casual Space Podcast, Ms. Christensen enjoys a more casual conversation with Beth about our inherent desire as humans to explore, to learn, and how exploring space can help us be better human beings.

In this episode of the Casual Space Podcast, Beth asks Emmy Award-winning screenwriter and television producer Ron Moore (Star Trek; Battlestar Galactica and Outlander), about the challenges presented when telling (rewriting) the alternative history of America’s space race

Brian Palermo is a professional actor and communications expert who works with executives, business leaders, and audiences teaching the art of improv to present powerful (and funny) stories.

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!

Mars Mission Success with Dr. Sian Proctor, Sensoria Mission Control

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.

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.

Dr. Michaela Musilova is an astrobiologist and the Director of the HI-SEAS analog space station.

Amanda Knutson is an Active Duty US Air Force member, currently working as a Weapons Armament Specialist at Luke AFB.

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?

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.