Best Lunar Colonization Podcasts (2025)

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Earthrise & the Moment Change Happens – A Conversation with Frank White, Pt. 1 45:25

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11d ago45:25

45:25

The Episode Frank White has spent decades unpacking something astronauts struggle to describe — the instant you see Earth not as a place you stand on but as the vessel carrying all of us through space. In this first part, Frank traces the roots of the space age — Sputnik, Apollo, Earthrise — and how those shocks and images rewired our sense of ours…

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Two Days and a Half – How ESA Brought a Lost Mars Mission Back to Life 1:26:45

1M ago1:26:45

1:26:45

The Episode In March 2022, Europe’s ExoMars Rosalind Franklin mission was only weeks from launch when it was suddenly grounded. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine ended years of cooperation, and left one of ESA’s most ambitious Mars projects without a ride, without partners, and without a plan. From inside ESA’s Mission Control in Darmstadt, Sara Melloni…

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Stop Chasing Ice: Why the First Moon Base Shouldn’t Be a Mine (with Pascal Lee) 1:25:26

2M ago1:25:26

1:25:26

Dr. Pascal Lee, planetary scientist, Arctic field explorer, and professor at the KSU (Kepler Space University) He’s spent his life between two extremes, the frozen frontiers of the Arctic and the conceptual edges of space exploration. Few people connect fieldwork, engineering, and philosophy like Pascal does. What We Talk About This episode begins …

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The Ocean Isn’t Flat: ESA’s gravity maps, climate facts, and Earth’s hidden shape 58:33

2M ago58:33

58:33

Guest: Robert Meisner, Earth Observation, ESA, ESRIN The Cosmic Scoop: In this eye-opening episode, Markus travels to ESRIN, ESA’s Earth Observation hub in Frascati near Rome, to sit down with Robert Meisner – a man who has spent nearly 40 years watching our planet from above. Together they dive into the hidden landscapes of the ocean surface, the …

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Who Needs Legs in Space? The Incredible Journey of John McFall 1:03:39

3M ago1:03:39

1:03:39

John McFall — surgeon, Paralympic medalist, father of three, and ESA parastronaut selectee — joins Markus to explore how human spaceflight changes when we design for ability, not assumptions. From winter survival in the Pyrenees to EVA realities and cosmic radiation, John shares what it takes to open space to everyone. Cosmic Timeline [00:00:00] Sq…

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Earth's Lost Rings: A 466-Million-Year-Old Warning 58:37

3M ago58:37

58:37

Guest: Dr. Andy Tomkins – Geologist, Professor at Monash University, and lead author of the groundbreaking study proposing that Earth once had a Saturn-like ring system. The Cosmic Scoop: What if Earth once had rings like Saturn? Dr. Andy Tomkins joins Markus to unravel the evidence that, 466 million years ago, a colossal asteroid breakup may have …

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Solar Lets You Visit. Nuclear Lets You Stay. A delicate conversation. 1:04:34

4M ago1:04:34

1:04:34

Guest: Dr. Bhavya Lal – Former NASA Chief Technologist, MIT-trained nuclear engineer, and architect of U.S. space nuclear policy. The Cosmic Scoop: Nuclear power’s bad Earthly reputation hides its potential as a lifeline beyond our planet. Space is already radioactive—and if we want to stay and build on the Moon, Mars, or Europa, nuclear offers “po…

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Planet Earth, Digitized: Can ESA’s Virtual Twin Save Us? 47:17

5M ago47:17

47:17

This week, Simonetta Cheli, Director of Earth Observation Programs at the European Space Agency (ESA), joins Markus to dive into one of the most ambitious and groundbreaking projects of our time: building a digital twin of our planet. Through Destination Earth (DestinE), ESA is creating a dynamic, real-time model of Earth—a tool designed to simulat…

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Former Space Agency Head: The Real Reason We Aren't on the Moon (It's Not Technology) 1:14:35

5M ago1:14:35

1:14:35

Giorgio Saccoccia – former President of the Italian Space Agency (ASI), propulsion engineer, and lifelong “space fan.” From lunar outposts and electric thrusters to space-as-diplomacy, Saccoccia brings four decades of insight into turning quick “flags-and-footprints” missions into a permanent human presence beyond Earth. Key Moments ⏱ Time Topic | …

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Forget Mars: Blue Origin Wants Earth as a National Park! 52:04

6M ago52:04

52:04

Heather Nelson, Director of the Club for the Future at Blue Origin, is at the forefront of inspiring the next generation to dream boldly about humanity’s role as an interplanetary species. In this expansive conversation, Heather provides a rare peek behind the curtain of Blue Origin’s ambitious plans and philosophical vision for the future of human…

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This Architect Is Redesigning Humanity for Life in Space 1:02:13

6M ago1:02:13

1:02:13

🚀 The Cosmic Scoop In this expansive and deeply human conversation, Phnam Bagley challenges everything we think we know about architecture. From floating tables to engineered space hearts, she reimagines what it means to design for a future where gravity is optional and emotion is essential. Together, we explore the untold questions of life in spac…

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Hearing a Universe: How a Blind Scientist Uncovers Hidden Patterns in Astronomical Data 1:02:55

7M ago1:02:55

1:02:55

Guest: Wanda Diaz Merced This very special episode of the Space Café Podcast introduces Wanda Diaz Merced, a visionary scientist who, after losing her sight in her twenties, pioneered a groundbreaking new method of exploring space through sound—sonification. Wanda shares her remarkable story and insights, showing us that blindness does not limit on…

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Someone is Seriously Putting a Swedish House on the Moon—Right Now! 1:29:30

7M ago1:29:30

1:29:30

Guest Introduction: In an extraordinary fusion of art, engineering, and cosmic ambition, Swedish artist Mikael Genberg and space engineer Emil Vinterhav have realized what many deemed impossible—a traditional Swedish red house, journeying through space toward the lunar surface. This Moonhouse symbolizes humanity’s unyielding aspiration and our inna…

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Memory Meltdown in Microgravity: Why you may just not remember your pioneering visit to Mars. 1:24:02

8M ago1:24:02

1:24:02

This episode's guest, Dr. Heather Collins, cognitive neuroscientist, brain-hack expert, and sought-after keynote speaker, takes us on a fascinating - and slightly unsettling - journey into how space travel changes the human brain. Buckle up as Heather reveals the extraordinary findings and crucial insights at the forefront of cognitive neuroscience…

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Did NASA Miss This? How Artists Are Starting to Unlock Space Travel’s Future 54:55

8M ago54:55

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🎙 Guest: Dr. Claudia Schnugg, Curator of the Universe Pavilion at the Venice Biennale & Art-Science Visionary The Cosmic Scoop: What if art could transform how we design habitats beyond Earth—and inspire new ways to live here at home? Dr. Claudia Schnugg is making this vision a reality. As curator of the groundbreaking Universe Pavilion at the pres…

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Dark Energy is a Cosmic Marketing Scam! Says a Cosmologist—And She Might Just Be Right. 1:26:28

9M ago1:26:28

1:26:28

🎙 Guest: Guadalupe Cañas Herrera, Theoretical Cosmologist and Euclid Consortium Member The Cosmic Scoop: What’s driving the universe’s wild expansion? Dark energy and dark matter make up 95% of the cosmos—but we barely understand them. Enter Euclid, launched in July 2023 to map a 3D universe and crack these mysteries. Guadalupe Cañas Herrera, a key…

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Would You Eat This? NASA Thinks It’s the Future of Food 55:02

9M ago55:02

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🎙 Guest: Arttu Luukanen, Head of Space & Defense at Solar Foods The Cosmic Scoop: How do we feed ourselves in space? The settlers of the past brought livestock, but in deep space, resupply isn’t an option, and every gram counts. Could microbes be the answer? Enter Solar Foods, a Finnish company producing food from just water, electricity, and bacte…

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Saturn’s Secret Oceans: Did Cassini Glimpse Life Before Its Fiery End? 1:33:04

10M ago1:33:04

1:33:04

Professor Luciano Iess, Planetary Scientist and NASA Exceptional Scientific Achievement Medalist The Cassini spacecraft’s final moments were like a fading heartbeat—one last signal before silence. In this episode, Professor Luciano Iess takes us on a journey across the solar system, from Saturn’s icy moons to Venus’s runaway greenhouse effect. Hidd…

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Beyond Billionaires: MoonDAO and the Radical Vision of a Decentralized Space Economy 1:22:25

11M ago1:22:25

1:22:25

What if space exploration wasn’t driven by governments or billionaires but by a decentralized community? Enter MoonDAO, an experiment in blockchain-powered space governance. In this episode, Pablo Moncada shares insights into how MoonDAO successfully crowdfunded a spaceflight, the potential of blockchain-based lunar economies, and whether decentral…

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The Outer Space Cultural Evolution Lab: Aoife Van Linden Tol on the Explosive Power of Art in Space Exploration 1:01:26

11M ago1:01:26

1:01:26

Aoife Van Linden Tol Space Artist and Visionary Episode Summary: In this explosive episode of the Space Café Podcast, we delve into the fascinating intersection of art, space, and planetary healing with renowned space artist Aoife Van Linden Tol. Known for her bold approach to creation and destruction, Aoife explores how the vastness of the cosmos …

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The Accidental Astronaut—Chris Sembroski’s Unlikely Journey —and Why You May Be Next 1:34:22

12M ago1:34:22

1:34:22

Guest: Chris "Hanks" Sembroski – Inspiration4 Astronaut, Engineer, and Space Enthusiast Episode Overview In this thrilling episode of the Space Cafe Podcast, host Markus Mooslechner speaks with Chris Sembroski, one of the civilian astronauts aboard SpaceX's Inspiration4—the first all-civilian mission to orbit. Chris shares his incredible journey fr…

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The Voyaj Project: How a Young Moroccan Woman is Connecting Humanity through Space 1:04:00

12M ago1:04:00

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Guest: Yasmine El Baggari, social entrepreneur, cultural connector, and near-astronaut Episode Highlights: Yasmine El Baggari joins the Space Cafe Podcast to share her incredible journey of cultural exchange, space aspirations, and fostering global unity. A visionary leader, Jasmine’s initiatives bridge gaps between communities, bringing astronauts…

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The End of Micro Launchers? The Bold 70% Savings Case for Balloon-Assisted Space Launch 1:46:55

1y ago1:46:55

1:46:55

Guest: José Mariano López Urdiales, CEO and Founder of Zero 2 Infinity The Cosmic Scoop: In this remarkably candid episode, José Mariano López Urdiales presents a compelling case for why balloon-assisted launches might be the only economically viable solution for small satellite deployment. Drawing from 15 years of experience with Zero 2 Infinity, …

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Hidden in Plain Sight - Out of Shanghai, Leading Space Photographer Reveals Earth's Hidden Space Revolution 1:23:24

1y ago1:23:24

1:23:24

Based in Shanghai for the past decade, Slovenian photographer Matjaž Tančič has uncovered a hidden space revolution happening far from the spotlight. Through his 'Mars on Earth' project, he documents remarkable space innovations emerging in the world's most unexpected places. Starting with candid insights into modern-day China, Tančič reveals how s…

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Starship is the Easy Part - Mars Society's Zubrin Charts the Real Challenges on our way to Mars 1:12:52

1y ago1:12:52

1:12:52

Guest: Dr. Robert Zubrin, Founder of the Mars Society and Author of "The New World on Mars" In this expansive conversation, Dr. Robert Zubrin takes us beyond the technical challenges of reaching Mars to explore the complex realities of establishing permanent human settlements on the Red Planet. While the world watches Starship development, Zubrin r…