Casual Space

Last spring, Beth Mund delivered the commencement speech at her alma matter, Loras College. Here is the recording of her speech, never before released. It's one of life long exploration and curiosity- Beth draws examples from her own experiences and from her colleagues in the space industry to help inspire the next generation of explorers.

Sean Wilson is a strategic communications and crisis communications expert who has worked extensively within the space industry. Sean currently works as the Director of Communications for the Aerospace Corporation and has also worked as the Director of Media and Public Relations for Northrop Grumman and the Director of Strategic Communications for Orbital ATK. *Whew!* AND, that's not even all of it- she's served in the United States Air Force, wrote a children's book about space adventures, and is a talented artist and "music junkie!" On this episode, Sean and Beth discover their professional paths have crossed numerous times and that they unknowingly have both been witness to several events and adventures while working with NASA…. This conversation is full of surprises, some "insider" tales, career wisdom from lessons learned, and, of course- laughter looking back on it all (and a promise of more stories to come). Find Sean on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/seanewilson/ And check out her space art on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/seanewilson/ Or get your copy of Princess Ava's excellent space adventure here: https://www.amazon.com/Princess-Avas-Great-Space-Adventure/dp/1494417987 And don't forget- Mission 03 is accepting your story about space RIGHT NOW at www.storiesofspace.com

Returning guest Danny Jaques has taken students to Space Camps for the past 32 years! He's been a certified space geek since he watched the last flight of Project Mercury with Gordon Cooper in Faith 7 on May 15, 1963, with his Dad. Danny started his career in education teaching science and was invited to tour the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama. He was so impressed with the programs, facilities, and people that he decided it would become his mission to share the opportunity with his students. Danny started organizing students in grades 4-12 to attend Space Camp, and since then, has chaperoned over 500 students, with plans to continue for many more years. Because of his work and dedication to so many students, Danny was inducted as a member of the Space Camp Hall of Fame in 2010. YOU ARE NEVER TOO OLD TO CHASE YOUR DREAMS! Learn more about Danny and his work on an earlier episode here: https://www.bethmund.com/casual-space-podcast/20230505/194-space-salsa Order Danny's coffee, Rocket Ranch Space Salsa, and more here: Website: https://www.dannysrocketranch.com. Email: dannysrocketranch@gmail.com https://www.facebook.com/DannysRocketRanch https://www.instagram.com/dannysrocketranchspacesalsa https://www.linkedin.com/in/dannysrocketranch/ https://twitter.com/DRR_SpaceSalsa And don't forget- Mission 03 is accepting your story about space RIGHT NOW at www.storiesofspace.com

Dr. Kirby Runyon is completely qualified to be your outer space lifestyle guide and science consultant. What makes him qualified, you ask? He's a Planetary Geologist at The Planetary Science Institute, a Creative Space Science Consultant, his research has flown on a recent Zero-G flight(s), he hosts tours of the Kennedy Space Center, offers astrogeology tours for educators, and, well, you can read all of his formal qualifications at https://planex.space. In the meantime, we're talking all about his space-themed zero-gravity flights (flinging colored chalk in microgravity), astrogeology adventure hikes (witnessing the most amazing colors within a sunset), seeing lava on the moon (!), and why kids make better Zero-G passengers than adults. It's all this and more fun with our friend and guide, Kirby Runyon! Follow Dr. Kirby Runyon on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/kirby-runyon-1752467/ Catch up on all the things Kirby is doing at planex.space And don't forget- Mission 03 is accepting your story about space RIGHT NOW at www.storiesofspace.com

40 years ago, the six surviving Mercury 7 Astronauts (Scott Carpenter, Gordon Cooper, John Glenn, Walter Schirra, Alan Shepard, and Deke Slayton), Betty Grissom, William Douglas, M.D., and Henri Landwirth established the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation (ASF). Since its inception, the ASF had the mission of retaining the United States' world leadership in technology and innovation to support the best and brightest STEM scholars while commemorating the legacy of America's pioneering astronauts. From the original 7 scholarships in 1984, $8.3 million Astronaut Scholarships have been awarded to 790+ Astronaut Scholars from 48 universities nationwide to date. The Astronaut Scholarship Foundation (ASF) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that annually provides more than 60 scholarships to the brightest and most talented college students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Learn more at: https://astronautscholarship.org/ Today on the show, Karly and Lisa join Beth and share how the ASF has helped impact their lives, and invite your support. Karly Liebendorfer is a senior at Florida Institute of Technology, majoring in biomedical engineering with minors in nanotechnology and chemistry. She is a 2023 Astronaut Scholar. She is also the captain of Florida Tech's NCAA DII women's lacrosse team and is involved in multiple student organizations. She will pursue her Ph.D. and aspires to work in drug development for space applications.

Stephen Matier is the President and CEO of Maritime Launch Services. He is also the visionary behind Spaceport Nova Scotia, a world-class commercial space complex that will launch Canada into the global space industry. Steve and his team at Maritime Launch will carry the next set of stories about space INTO space later this summer (Mission 03, currently open for story submissions) through the STORIES of Space non-profit organization. Today on the podcast, Steve explains how space exploration was always in his background AND backyard! Steve started as a mechanical engineer (Bachelor of Science, University of New Mexico) and worked at NASA's White Sands Test Facility. At Maritime Launch, Matier leads coordination and approval among provincial, federal, and international governing bodies, securing private financing, leading satellite sales, coordinating launch vehicle integration and selecting best-in-class commercial firms to support launch operations. Want to know more about Maritime Launch? https://www.maritimelaunch.com/ Want to send your own story ABOUT space INTO space this summer? Submit your story TODAY at www.storiesofspace.com Want to know more about Steve Matier? https://www.maritimelaunch.com/team As part of Steve's work with Maritime Launch, he is driving the collaboration and partnerships to support the development of a safe and environmentally sustainable commercial space launch market in Canada. With satellite and launch vehicle clients within Canada and around the globe interested in launching from Spaceport Nova Scotia, Maritime Launch is joining a global industry that will exceed one trillion dollars annually within the next 20 years. While Steve's day-to-day focus is squarely focused on developing Canada's first commercial spaceport, Matier's interest in space extends beyond the technology and the launch itself. Steve has a passion for teaching, which means he is never far from the classroom, whether guest lecturing at a local high school physics class in Canso or presenting to kids at summer programs in Antigonish. He has driven partnerships with St. Francis Xavier University and Cape Breton University and supports Dalhousie's CubeSat program. His passion for working with schools began in his early career in the Space Shuttle program, with the recognition that kids can look up into space and see opportunities for themselves on the ground. Steve is a recipient of the prestigious Silver Snoopy Award, an honor for outstanding achievements related to human flight safety or mission success.

Are you ready for the April 8 solar eclipse? Don't worry, Tyler Nordgren is THE perfect guide, and he's here to walk us through what to expect on the upcoming solar eclipse, along with other celestial events- Tyler is an artist, astronomer, and night sky ambassador. So tune in, and get ready for this incredible event with our friend and returning guest expert and guide, Tyler Nordgren! More about Dr. Tyler Nordgren, from his website: https://www.tylernordgren.com/ "When I'm not creating and commissioning vintage space art, I'm a professional astronomer and lecturer with a Ph.D. in Astronomy. For over a decade, I've worked with the National Park Service (NPS) to turn our nation's beautiful national parks into the single largest source for public science and astronomy education in the world. I've photographed our national parks at night with exquisite night sky photography, gave countless astronomical tours to the public, and advocated for us all to learn more about the astronomical wonders in the sky. It's my personal goal to inform and educate the public through artwork. Through my vintage space art, I educate and inspire the public about the wonders of the universe. My most popular space art campaign has been "See the Milky Way" for the NPS with the popular slogan, Half the Park is After Dark(TM), and it has become the unofficial motto of the NPS night sky program. My vintage art style is inspired by the educational 1930s posters created by the WPA and CCC. I use this medium to educate people about space, conservation & light pollution—and to strike an emotional chord precisely the same way it was used way back in the day." See Tyler's amazing artwork at: https://www.tylernordgren.com/ and get a poster or two for your walls to remember the eclipse! Be safe! Don't forget your protective glasses and enjoy!

Maureen Gibbons, MD, (known on social media as Dr. Moe), is a practicing physician, sports nutritionist and life coach who also held athletic trainer and triathlon coach credentials for many years. Her board certification is in emergency medicine, obesity medicine and lifestyle medicine. Dr. Moe founded and runs a remote lifestyle medicine practice called Active Medical Solutions. As an author and speaker Maureen seeks to spread the word that we are all "Happy First" which is the title of her first book and relates that to finding gratitude in daily life. Her private consulting business integrates that knowledge with assisting healthcare providers in making successful career transitions. Maureen also enjoys triathlons, is a voracious reader and loves to spend time with her husband, son and pets. You can find more about Dr. Moe on TikTok as AMSDoctorMoe or at: WatchAMS.com AMSTelehealth.com And catch her book at HappyFirstBook.com

Why is space agriculture important, possible, and necessary? Daniel Tompkins believes the present and future of agriculture can be reimagined. Daniel Tompkins is an expert in plant medicine and agriculture, with a unique doctorate from the University of Florida that combines practical problem-solving with a focus on agriculture- a perfect mixture to explore sustainable agricultural practices for future space habitats. Learn more about GrowMars: https://sites.google.com/view/growmars/home?authuser=0 Contract information for GrowMars: Email- GrowMars2@gmail.com LinkedIn- https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielgrows/ Twitter- https://twitter.com/growmars2

Can we settle space, should we settle space, and have we really thought this through? Kelly and Zach Weinersmith make their triumphant return to Casual Space sharing their new book, "A City on Mars." Beth asks Kelly and Zach to spill the beans about everything they've learned and extensively researched regarding space settlements. In doing their research Kelly attended numerous space conferences, while Zach spent numerous hours reading memoirs. Then they presented balanced serious content with humorous interjections, in perfect Weinersmith co-author style! This FUN conversation talks about the cultural differences in space history, with anecdotes about Soviet cosmonauts and the commercialization of space. Kelly and Zach discuss the psychological challenges of astronauts, the lack of trauma medicine in space, and the impact of microgravity on the human body. So, is space settlement a good idea? Did the authors discover excitement for the future of space exploration? One thing's for certain- Kelly and Zach have REALLY thought this through! Get your copy of City on Mars here: https://www.amazon.com/City-Mars-settle-thought-through/dp/1984881728 Follow Kelly and Zach: smbc-comics.com Weinersmith.com https://twitter.com/FuSchmu https://www.youtube.com/user/klsmithbio