Supercluster

Ashlee Vance Has a New Book to Obsess Over

April 18, 2023 22:19 - 35 minutes - 49 MB

Robin is joined by Author and journalist Ashlee Vance, the author of Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future. Vance has a fascinating new book coming out in the same spirit but this time he follows the dizzying new space race between Astra, Rocket Lab, and Firefly and the exploits of their cowboy founders and CEOs.

Picard and the (Next) Next Generation

February 28, 2023 22:17 - 49 minutes - 67.8 MB

Robin is joined by space journalists, Star Trek experts, and Supercluster contributors Swapna Krishna (Vulture, WIRED) and Chris Gebhardt (NASASpaceflight) to unpack the first few episodes of Picard Season 3 and the Next Generation reunion Trekkies have been waiting for since Tom Hardy left us with the thoroughly sad and disappointing Star Trek: Nemesis.

Resurrecting the Long-Extinct Dodo Bird

January 31, 2023 23:47 - 34 minutes - 48.2 MB

De-extinction startup Colossal Biosciences has announced the creation of the company’s new Avian Genomics Group, whose unbelievable task will be to resurrect and rewild the dodo bird, a storied icon of human-caused extinction. Colossal CEO Ben Lamm returns to the show to unpack the news.

Returning to Pandora

January 23, 2023 13:10 - 45 minutes - 62.9 MB

Robin is joined by veteran entertainment reporter and show business analyst Brandon Katz, a friend of Supercluster who is making his third appearance on the podcast to discuss James Cameron's Avatar sequel and the upcoming 2023 films and streaming shows that you probably care about.

A Fly on the Wall in SpaceX Mission Control

January 09, 2023 15:59 - 29 minutes - 40.4 MB

For the first Supercluster podcast episode of 2O23, Robin is joined by author and space journalist David Brown (New Yorker, New York Times) to chat about his field work in Antarctica and his thrilling report from inside SpaceX's mission control in Hawthorne, California as they launched humans to space.

NASA is Riding a Wave of Success. Did America Take Notice?

November 29, 2022 19:28 - 52 minutes - 73.2 MB

Robin is joined by fellow space nerds Chris "Spo" Esposito and Patrick Stacy, the "odd couple" hosts of the Orbital Takes podcast. They discuss the relief of a successful Artemis-1 launch, the long wait for Falcon Heavy's return, the buzz around Webb's images, and what's really needed to boost NASA's outreach strategy.

The Right Conversations About Space Settlements

November 01, 2022 19:12 - 45 minutes - 63.5 MB

Following the landmark Beyond Earth Symposium in Washington DC, the Institute's Steven Wolfe and Courtney Stadd return to chat with Robin about the policies that will create permanent human settlements in orbit and beyond while shaping a healthy space economy.

Near-Term Human Future in Space

September 27, 2022 17:41 - 33 minutes - 45.6 MB

Robin is joined by the Beyond Earth Institute’s Steven Wolfe and Courtney Stadd to talk humanity’s near and midterm future, and the upcoming Symposium in Washington DC, on October 12-13, 2022.

The Artemis 1 Delays

September 13, 2022 19:44 - 56 minutes - 78 MB

On this weeks Podcast, we invite Supercluster's photographers Jenny Hautmann and Erik Kuna to share their experience covering Artemis 1. We are also joined by fellow Trekkies Chris Gebhardt and Swapna Krishna to celebrate Star Trek day.

Orbit is Getting Ridiculously Busy

May 10, 2022 19:08 - 40 minutes - 55 MB

Robin and Jamie are joined by Chris Gebhardt to unpack critical updates from across the space industry. SpaceX is achieving development milestones, especially with human spaceflight, faster than we can note them. China launches cargo to its new space station in the leadup to finally having a permanent presence in space. Boeing heads back to the launchpad to give its troubled Starliner capsule another try.

All the Star Treks

April 26, 2022 21:45 - 36 minutes - 50.4 MB

Robin is joined by seasoned space journalists and bonafide Trekkies Swapna Krishna and Chris Gebhardt who are returning to the show for a catch up on all the Star Trek projects on-air and in-development.

Returning to Pandora

April 12, 2022 20:49 - 57 minutes - 79 MB

Robin and Jamie are joined by Brandon Katz, Entertainment Host and Creator for Morning Brew, for their regular catch-up on the happenings of space and fantasy cinema. They unpack the return of Obi-Wan Kenobi on Disney+ and the upcoming return of the Na'vi and the world of Pandora on the silver screen with legendary filmmaker James Cameron.

Starlink in Ukraine

March 15, 2022 21:39 - 21 minutes - 29.1 MB

Engineer Oleg Kutkov is on the ground in Kyiv, Ukraine as the Russians attack and is testing Starlink as a communications redundancy.

Wall Street and Hollywood Cope with Space Risk

February 01, 2022 20:34 - 40 minutes - 55.9 MB

Robin is joined by CNBC Space Reporter Michael Sheetz to discuss the highs and lows of doing business in space, who is eating into who's satellite launch market, and what happens to space stocks when a mission fails?

Rocket (and Webb) Chasing in French Guiana

January 18, 2022 23:12 - 1 hour - 84.6 MB

On our first episode of 2022, Jamie and Robin are joined by NSF's Chris Gebhardt, who was one of the few journalists to be on-site for the James Webb Space Telescope's Christmas morning launch from the northern tip of South America.

Opening Space Travel to People With Disabilities

November 09, 2021 21:17 - 48 minutes - 67.1 MB

Robin and Jamie are joined by space journalist, producer, and podcast host Sawyer Rosenstein to chat about his historic Zero-G flight with AstroAccess, an organization advancing disability inclusion in outer space.

Back to Earth

October 12, 2021 19:32 - 34 minutes - 46.8 MB

Robin is joined by artist and former NASA astronaut Nicole Stott to discuss her new book Back to Earth: What Life in Space Taught Me About Our Home Planet And Our Mission to Protect It.

Sarafina's Fascinating World of Astronomy

October 05, 2021 18:40 - 33 minutes - 45.7 MB

Robin is joined by newly-minted Analog Astronaut and PhD student Sarafina Nance who is studying Cosmology and Supernovas at UC Berkeley. Nance is also the author of the new children's book Little Leonardo's Fascinating World of Astronomy.

Your First Time at Kennedy Space Center

September 27, 2021 18:28 - 46 minutes - 63.5 MB

Robin is joined by Chris Esposito, host of the Space With Spo show, to unpack their adventure down to Florida's Space Coast to cover SpaceX's historic Inspiration4 as credentialed members of the media. It was Chris's first time at Cape Canaveral.

SpaceX Readies Starship While Blue Origin Readies Lawsuits

September 07, 2021 20:16 - 45 minutes - 63.2 MB

Robin, Jamie, and Chris discuss the recent happenings across the busy space industry including Astra’s failed launch in Alaska, the progress being made at Starbase, and the latest with Blue Origin’s fight for a lunar lander contract.

Will Starship Fly Before Starliner?

August 06, 2021 13:26 - 39 minutes - 54 MB

This week, Robin is joined by the host of the Space with Spo show, Chris Esposito, to unpack some of the biggest space news from the week. Blue Origin throws shade at SpaceX's Starship, Starliner returns from the launchpad for more repairs, and SpaceX prepares the Super Heavy booster for launch at Starbase.

Space Engineers Unite on the Soccer Field

July 06, 2021 21:58 - 36 minutes - 50.6 MB

Jamie and Robin are joined by Camilo Tobacia, a former SpaceX and current Blue Origin engineer who founded the Space United soccer club and the #Goalforlaunch non-profit to bring STEM education to underrepresented youth.

The Black in Astro Movement

July 06, 2021 21:19 - 49 minutes - 68.8 MB

Jamie and Robin are joined by Ashley Walker, the founder of the Black in Astro movement and a Ph.D. student studying Atmospheric Chemistry and Astrochemistry at Howard University.

Will Jeff Bezos Spot a UFO?

June 18, 2021 18:42 - 1 hour - 86.7 MB

Jamie and Robin are joined by Chris Esposito, founder of the Space with Spo Show, to chat about Blue Origin's New Shepard auction (before they closed the bidding) and the Pentagon's upcoming UFO report.

Venus is Finally Getting Some NASA Love

June 15, 2021 20:40 - 55 minutes - 76.7 MB

Robin, Jamie, and Chris get together to unpack an endless stream of space news from your favorite launch providers and updates from various programs including the James Webb Space Telescope, the DAVINCI+ and VERITAS missions to Venus, and Starliner's redo mission to the space station.

The Dune Mythology

June 08, 2021 21:06 - 1 hour - 135 MB

At Supercluster, we love science fiction and fantasy across all mediums. On this episode of the podcast, our team members Eric Collins, Jamie Carreiro, and Tristan Dubin dive deep into the epic saga of Dune (and its adaptations) while taking a look at the rich world-building that drives the story that is soon to be another film, this time helmed by Arrival's Denis Villeneuve.

Returning to the Movies

May 18, 2021 20:38 - 1 hour - 90.8 MB

Jamie and Robin are joined by the Observer's Senior Entertainment Reporter Brandon Katz to get excited about movies hitting the big screen soon and some that are still in development. A Quiet Place II, Dune, Taika Waititi's Star Wars, and JJ Abram's Superman are films we're buying tickets for. Just to name a few.

NASA's Moon Landing Award Rocks the Space Industry

April 26, 2021 21:41 - 39 minutes - 54.6 MB

Robin, Jamie, and Chris unpack the surprising and controversial news that NASA chose a single operator, SpaceX, to return humans to the moon for the first time since 1972.

The Mars Life

April 12, 2021 17:14 - 1 hour - 110 MB

Cosmic Perspective Co-founder MaryLiz Bender is a filmmaker, musician, writer, and future astronaut. After a few years of exciting space adventures at Cape Canaveral, she moves on to Boca Chica, Texas to tell the story of Starship. She shares her recent experience of becoming an analog astronaut in a Mars simulation environment and applying for new spaceflight opportunities for artists and creators.

The High Frontier and Gerard O'Neill's Legacy

March 23, 2021 16:09 - 30 minutes - 41.6 MB

Jamie and Robin are joined by philanthropist, space evangelist, and entrepreneur Dylan Taylor, the CEO of Voyager Space Holdings. We discuss Voyager's latest acquisition and the upcoming film, The High Frontier, which examines the life and work of visionary physicist Gerard O' Neill.

Robots Reach Mars While Starship Tests Continue in Texas

March 04, 2021 21:06 - 1 hour - 109 MB

Robin, Jamie, and Chris get together to chat about the three robots that have reached Mars for NASA, China, and the UAE, and the public's reaction to pushing the boundaries of interplanetary exploration. They also cover recent updates on Starship, Crew Dragon, Boeing's Starliner redo, and the search for the elusive Planet X.

David W. Brown talks The Mission: A True Story

March 01, 2021 15:18 - 48 minutes - 66.1 MB

Author David W. Brown joins Jamie and Robin for a chat on his thrilling new book, The Mission, the extraordinary tale of the scientists, thinkers, and engineers who are mounting a profound mission of discovery to the mysterious Europa, a moon of Jupiter and a destination many think we'll find biological life.

People of Color in Space Exploration

March 01, 2021 15:03 - 51 minutes - 71.4 MB

A time capsule of sorts. Aerospace Engineering Ph.D. Student Naia Butler-Craig joined Robin last year in the wake of America's return to human spaceflight while the nation took to the streets to protest the extrajudicial killing of black Americans––events that mirrored the civil rights movement and the Apollo program of the late 1960s. Taped in May of 2020, Naia and Robin reflect on current events and whether the space industry can be an equitable place for people of color.

Doing Space Outreach...on the Moon

February 05, 2021 16:21 - 47 minutes - 65.5 MB

Jamie and Robin are joined by space & science communicator and YouTuber TJ Cooney to chat about his work in the aerospace community and how he's sending a payload to the Moon atop ULA's new Vulcan rocket.

How is AI and machine learning changing the way we work?

January 19, 2021 23:20 - 32 minutes - 44.5 MB

Jamie and Robin are joined by Hypergiant's Chief Science Officer Kristina Libby for a discussion on where development of A.I currently stands and how machine learning has become a critical tool across various industries.

Felicity Jones & Astronaut Nicole Stott

December 16, 2020 21:21 - 21 minutes - 29.7 MB

On the first episode of Real Astronaut / Play Astronaut, the star of Netflix's The Midnight Sky, Felicity Jones, joins retired astronaut Nicole Stott to exchange notes on stepping into the role of a space traveler both in real life and on the silver screen.

Cathy Ang, Star of Netflix's Over the Moon

December 07, 2020 19:20 - 41 minutes - 57 MB

We are joined by voice actress Cathy Ang who stars in Netflix's Over the Moon, a new animated fantasy film that sees an adventurous young woman build a rocket to meet a mythical goddess on the moon.

The Viability of Private Spaceflight

November 23, 2020 15:57 - 38 minutes - 53.3 MB

Following the successful launch of SpaceX's Crew-1 "Resilience" Dragon to the ISS, CNBC space reporter Michael Sheetz returns to the show to share his experience covering the historic mission at Kennedy Space Center and to discuss the growth of the burgeoning commercial space industry.

NASA Communications Specialist Leah Cheshier

November 10, 2020 20:29 - 40 minutes - 55.2 MB

Johnson Space Center ISS Communications Specialist Leah Cheshier heads to SpaceX headquarters to host a Livestream of NASA's next crew launch to the International Space Station aboard Dragon.

Introducing the Astronaut Database

October 20, 2020 18:24 - 1 hour - 91.8 MB

Robin and Jamie preview the introduction of Supercluster's Astronaut Database before their keynote at this year's annual Spacecom Expo. Chris joins us for updates on Blue Origin's New Shepard test campaign and NASA's mission to capture material from Asteroid Bennu.

Heading to the Moon (To Listen for Aliens?)

October 06, 2020 22:20 - 1 hour - 108 MB

The Supercluster team looks at where the industry stands on its human spaceflight goals, and the proposal to build a listening station on the far side of the moon to receive potential E.T. signals. We are joined by SETI Berkley's Director Andrew Siemion and NASA astronaut & upcoming SpaceX crew member Victor Glover to chat about his upcoming flight to the ISS.

An Aspiring Explorer Navigates a Changing Space Industry

August 28, 2020 19:33 - 30 minutes - 41.8 MB

We are joined by Brooke Owens Fellow and CU Boulder Aerospace Engineering student Michelle Lin to talk about her experiences as an Asian American woman launching a career in space exploration.

The Space Age Museum

August 27, 2020 20:39 - 27 minutes - 37.6 MB

We are joined by Space Age Museum founder Peter Kleeman to discuss his unique collection of artifacts from an era of big ideas: The Space Age. Join us for a discussion of how creativity collided with science as humanity began to explore the cosmos.

The Academic Road to Space

July 22, 2020 15:39 - 32 minutes - 44.6 MB

We are joined by dancer, astrophotographer, and PhD student Chiara Ferrari-Wong to discuss her work at the Hawai'i Institute of Geophysics and Planetology and the different educational inroads to a career in space.

Crazy Space Plans That We Never Tried (Yet)

July 13, 2020 15:26 - 41 minutes - 57.4 MB

Giant Space Lasers! Orbiting Luxury Housing! Interplanetary Submarines! This episode is all about the Crazy Space Plans That Have Never Been Tried. Jamie, Amanda, and Joe tell stories from space history past and present about real ideas and designs that were proposed, but never actually built. At least not yet...

Moon Cars

July 08, 2020 15:10 - 45 minutes - 61.8 MB

In this episode Jamie Carreiro and Eric Collins discuss the unlikely story of how NASA flew three cars to the Moon at the end of the Apollo Program. Listen in as we explore the outlandish engineering solutions that helped make it possible for humans to drive on the strangest, most remote landscape ever visited.

Wiley Post and His Adventures at the Edge of Space

June 18, 2020 18:54 - 43 minutes - 60.2 MB

At the turn of the 20th century, a small-town farm boy with little formal education decided he wanted to be the best pilot in the world. The adventures that came next helped pave the way for one of the most crucial aspects of spaceflight: the space suit. Join us for this special episode as we look back into aviation history to bring you the incredible story of legendary American aviator Wiley Post. Supercluster's own Jamie Carreiro is joined by team members and fellow space fans Amanda Burt...

Episodes