Podcasts about Kothari

In this episode of Generative Now, Lightspeed Partner Michael Mignano sits down with Tanay Kothari, the co-founder and CEO of Wispr Flow, an AI-powered voice dictation platform. Tanay traces his path from building dozens of apps as a teen in Delhi to now, and how those experiences inspired him to make one of the first “zero-edit” voice products. Tanay gets into training in-house models, beating sub-second latency, and explains his approach to onboarding customers with the goal of changing behavior. He also discusses what's next for the future of voice products and why he predicts a post-keyboard future.For more information on Wispr Flow, please visit https://wisprflow.ai andhttps://wisprflow.ai/careers 00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome01:26 Tenay's Background and Early Inspirations02:29 Building and Selling Feather X03:52 The Birth of Whisper Flow04:25 Early App Development and Challenges06:39 Innovative Projects and User Impact11:45 Whisper Flow's Differentiated Approach18:57 Technical Challenges and Solutions22:23 Design and User Experience23:19 Personal Onboarding Experience23:40 Building User Habits24:43 Inspiration from Video Games26:11 Onboarding Mechanics in Whisper29:00 Challenges of Deep Integration32:10 Transition from Hardware to Software38:30 Future of Voice Technology47:42 Upcoming Features and OpportunitiesStay in touch:www.lsvp.comX: https://twitter.com/lightspeedvpLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lightspeed-venture-partners/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lightspeedventurepartners/Subscribe on your favorite podcast app: generativenow.coEmail: generativenow@lsvp.comThe content here does not constitute tax, legal, business or investment advice or an offer to provide such advice, should not be construed as advocating the purchase or sale of any security or investment or a recommendation of any company, and is not an offer, or solicitation of an offer, for the purchase or sale of any security or investment product. For more details please see lsvp.com/legal.

Quick Summary & Overview: Our program began with a detailed technical discussion about the Starship spacecraft and its potential for Mars missions. The group explored various technical challenges and possibilities for Starship's capabilities, including engine operations, payload considerations, and transit times, while also discussing nuclear propulsion options and potential destinations for the spacecraft. The conversation concluded with discussions about lunar stations, their economic and scientific value, and the broader implications of public-private partnerships in space exploration.I started this program by introducing Space Show participants, including John Hunt, and guest Jack, Dr. Ajay Kothari, John Jossy, Phil, Peter, and Marshall Martin. I discussed the upcoming Starship and Mars transit topic with Jack, who agreed to stay for a 90-minute discussion. I also mentioned upcoming guests for future shows, including Joe Carroll, Dr. Benaroya, Sam Ximenez, and Dr. Mike Grumpman. I brought up fundraising and financial support for The Space Show as we are a listener supported show and we request your help to keep the program going.I also talked about the ongoing denial-of-service attack on the Space Show by AI bots which has led to issues with podcasting and other problems. We are using Cloudflare blocking for all non-human traffic but sometimes that blocks desirable non-human traffic. I mentioned the potential move of the podcast to Substack, but this is still in progress. I introduced our guest Jack Kingdon, a final-year undergraduate physics student at UCSB. He shared his interest in Starship and his published work in a Nature sub-issue which explores Starship's capabilities.Jack presented his research on the potential for Starship to achieve faster transit times to Mars, suggesting that the increased payload capacity and reusability of Starship could enable missions to Mars in as little as 3 months, compared to the traditional 6-7 month journey. He noted that this would require higher velocities and specific impulse from the Raptor engines, as well as meeting certain mass ratio targets. The discussion touched on the challenges of a narrow launch window for such a fast transit, the potential benefits of reduced radiation exposure, and the ethical considerations of presenting cost data without proper sourcing. Jack acknowledged the need to revise his cost estimates and agreed to further investigate SpaceX's perspective on faster transit options.Our group discussed reducing the payload of the Starship to accelerate transit time for human cargo, with Jack explaining that converting payload to fuel could increase delta-V by about 10%, but this might not be sufficient for a 90-day Holman transfer. Phil noted that SpaceX's claimed 100-ton payload capacity for Mars missions assumes optimal cargo transfers, and reducing payload to 45 tons could allow faster travel but might not be feasible for a crew. Marshall raised questions about using composite materials instead of stainless steel, which Jack explained was considered but abandoned due to concerns about re-entry temperatures and the need for ablative or ceramic heat shields.The group discussed the feasibility of a Mars mission involving separate reentry vehicles and transit vehicles, with Peter proposing a two-vehicle system to reduce heat shield requirements. Dr. Kothari explained that slowing down in cold space would require significant propellant, making the proposed system impractical. The discussion then shifted to SpaceX's plans for in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) on Mars, with Jack noting that four shiploads of ISRU propellant would be needed rather than one, though he expressed doubts about the technical feasibility of this approach. Phil raised concerns about SpaceX's payload claims for the Starship, questioning whether they could truly achieve the promised capabilities with current technology.The group discussed nuclear propulsion options for space exploration, with Jack expressing skepticism about solid-core nuclear thermal rockets due to their high dry mass and limited specific impulse advantage. They explored the challenges of nuclear power systems on Mars, including radiative cooling requirements and ISRU considerations, with Phil noting that nuclear reactor radiators might become as heavy as solar panels. The conversation also touched on quantum physics research at UCSB, where Jack works on atomic and condensed matter systems, and Marshall raised questions about light speed in neutron stars, though Jack couldn't provide specific answers about light propagation in such extreme environments.Jack discussed the potential destinations for the Starship, emphasizing Mars as a priority due to the possibility of discovering ancient bacteria. He explored the feasibility of uncrewed missions to Jupiter and Saturn, highlighting Starship's capabilities for such missions. The group also discussed the use of Starship as a space settlement vehicle, with Jack noting its potential as a habitat for lunar and Martian settlements. David inquired about Jack's support from his professors for his Starship work, to which Jack replied that they have been very supportive. The discussion concluded with predictions on SpaceX's timeline for taking people to Mars and concerns about potentially losing to China in space exploration.This program is audio archived at www.thespaceshow.com. In addition, it will be both audio and video archived at doctorspace.substack.com. When our podcasting returns it will be podcasted from our Substack site.Special thanks to our sponsors:Northrup Grumman, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Helix Space in Luxembourg, Celestis Memorial Spaceflights, Astrox Corporation, Dr. Haym Benaroya of Rutgers University, The Space Settlement Progress Blog by John Jossy, The Atlantis Project, and Artless EntertainmentOur Toll Free Line for Live Broadcasts: 1-866-687-7223For real time program participation, email Dr. Space at: drspace@thespaceshow.comThe Space Show is a non-profit 501C3 through its parent, One Giant Leap Foundation, Inc. To donate via Pay Pal, use:To donate with Zelle, use the email address: david@onegiantleapfoundation.org.If you prefer donating with a check, please make the check payable to One Giant Leap Foundation and mail to:One Giant Leap Foundation, 11035 Lavender Hill Drive Ste. 160-306 Las Vegas, NV 89135Upcoming Programs:Broadcast 4444: Zoom Joe Carroll | Tuesday 14 Oct 2025 700PM PTGuests: Joe CarrollZOOM: Joe updates us with art. gravity, spin gravity, his work and moreBroadcast 4445: Hotel Mars TBD | Wednesday 15 Oct 2025 930AM PTGuests: John Batchelor, Dr. David LivingstonHotel Mars TBDBroadcast 4446: ZOOM Dr. Haym Benaroya | Friday 17 Oct 2025 930AM PTGuests: Dr. Haym BenaroyaZOOM: Dr. Benaroya is here to discuss lunar habitat architecture, policy and lots more.Broadcast 4447: ZOOM Sam Ximenes of Astroport Space Technologies | Sunday 19 Oct 2025 1200PM PTGuests: Sam XimenesZoom: CEO & Founder of Astroport Space Tech, Sam Ximenes, is with us to discuss their lunar work, his being featured by National Geographic and more.Special thanks to our sponsors:Northrup Grumman, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Helix Space in Luxembourg, Celestis Memorial Spaceflights, Astrox Corporation, Dr. Haym Benaroya of Rutgers University, The Space Settlement Progress Blog by John Jossy, The Atlantis Project, and Artless Entertainment Get full access to The Space Show-One Giant Leap Foundation at doctorspace.substack.com/subscribe

We started the program with discussions about SPACs and space-focused investments, where Andrew shared his expertise on SPAC performance and the UFO ETF's methodology. The discussion explored various aspects of space industry investment trends, including index criteria, the evolution of space technology, and the intersection of nuclear and space technologies. The conversation concluded with insights about the flow of investment capital between AI and space industries, along with discussions about regulatory changes and the future opportunities in space exploration.After the introductions and announcements, Andrew discussed his experience with SPACs in some detail, noting that while some have been successful, others have not performed well. He explained that SPACs are not inherently good or bad but rather depend on how they are structured and managed. Andrew shared his personal interest in SPACs dating back to his early career and mentioned that his firm had considered launching a space-focused SPAC but ultimately decided against it due to market conditions. He advised potential investors to conduct thorough due diligence and emphasized the importance of believing in the team behind a SPAC.Andrew explained the origin of the ETF's name “UFO,” which was chosen for its memorable three-letter ticker and availability. He then discussed the fund's performance, noting that it tracks a rules-based index and has exposure to a diverse range of space-related companies, including both well-known and lesser-known names. Andrew also highlighted the fund's global approach and the changing landscape of the space industry, which has led to new investment opportunities. He mentioned that the fund currently holds about 47 companies, up from 30 at launch, and has seen some new space names enter the public markets recently.The discussion focused on space investment trends and index criteria. Andrew explained that private space investments grew from $1.1 billion with 8 investors from 2000-2005 to $10.2 billion with 93 investors from 2012-2018, noting that foreign governments are increasingly seeking space solutions independently of SpaceX. John Jossy inquired about index criteria, and Andrew clarified that the index evaluates space revenue metrics, market cap, and liquidity, with companies needing either majority space revenue or specific revenue thresholds to qualify. Andrew also explained that companies can be removed or re-added to the index based on meeting methodology standards, using Avio as an example of a company that was removed but later re-added when it met the criteria again.The discussion focused on comparing SPACs and UFO ETFs, with Andrew explaining that UFO tracks the S Network Space Index, a global space index launched in 2019 that focuses on companies with significant space-related revenues. Andrew emphasized that unlike traditional ETFs like QQQ, UFO has minimal overlap with other funds and is managed by former Space Foundation Director of Research Micha Walter Range, who developed the methodology for quantifying space industry revenues.We put more focus on the UFO index, its methodology, and potential inclusion of private funds like SilverLake. Andrew explained that the index currently only considers publicly traded securities and does not include private investments. He also discussed trends in commercial space investment, noting the impact of geopolitical events on the industry. Andrew highlighted how conflicts and political shifts have created both challenges and opportunities for space technology companies, potentially leading to more nationalistic approaches in the industry.Andrew discussed the importance of national security and defense in space, highlighting the potential for U.S. companies to win contracts for projects like Golden Dome and potentially share technologies with allies. He noted a strong investor appetite for space companies, citing improved fundamentals and better access to investment opportunities. David asked about the impact of Artemis' success and the race to the moon on investment trends, to which Andrew responded that the moon's strategic importance could influence access and development, mentioning potential data centers and micro-economies on the moon.Given comments by Dr. Kothari, our discussion focused on the intersection of nuclear and space technologies, with Ajay highlighting the potential for thorium-based molten salt reactors to address both energy and climate challenges, noting significant thorium reserves in the US and China. Andrew acknowledged the potential of these technologies while emphasizing the importance of energy for space exploration and the historical benefit of space technologies transferring to Earth applications. David mentioned the emergence of several potential industries from cislunar development and low Earth orbit manufacturing, emphasizing the need for revenue generation beyond seed capital. Andrew said in some cases the fund lists pre-revenue companies. Don't miss his comments on this topic.We looked at many of the space-focused companies and their inclusion in investment indices. Andrew explained that while pre-revenue companies could be included if publicly traded, they typically need to meet specific metrics and be publicly traded to be considered. John Hunt mentioned a potential investment opportunity with a PE of 25 and a dividend of 0.9%. Andrew emphasized the importance of finding a reliable index methodology when investing in specific industries. The conversation also touched on regulatory changes in the ETF industry and Andrew's advice for young entrepreneurs considering space as an investment opportunity.Andrew summarized the space industry's opportunities and challenges, emphasizing the importance of capable workforce and diverse investment strategies. He highlighted the potential for unexpected opportunities in the space sector, citing the EchoStar story as an example. The group also touched on the impact of tariffs on the space industry and the shifting investment landscape, with AI being seen as a major competitor for investment dollars.Note that this program is archived both at www.thespaceshow.com and doctorspace.substack.com for audio. The Zoom video is on the same Substack site for this date, Friday, Oct. 10, 2025.pecial thanks to our sponsors:Northrup Grumman, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Helix Space in Luxembourg, Celestis Memorial Spaceflights, Astrox Corporation, Dr. Haym Benaroya of Rutgers University, The Space Settlement Progress Blog by John Jossy, The Atlantis Project, and Artless EntertainmentOur Toll Free Line for Live Broadcasts: 1-866-687-7223For real time program participation, email Dr. Space at: drspace@thespaceshow.comThe Space Show is a non-profit 501C3 through its parent, One Giant Leap Foundation, Inc. To donate via Pay Pal, use:To donate with Zelle, use the email address: david@onegiantleapfoundation.org.If you prefer donating with a check, please make the check payable to One Giant Leap Foundation and mail to:One Giant Leap Foundation, 11035 Lavender Hill Drive Ste. 160-306 Las Vegas, NV 89135Upcoming Programs:Broadcast 4443 Jack Kingdon | Sunday 12 Oct 2025 1200PM PTGuests: Jack KingdonJack discusses his paper “3 months transit time to Mars for human missions using SpaceX Starship” Get full access to The Space Show-One Giant Leap Foundation at doctorspace.substack.com/subscribe

Akshay Kothari has built tools that transform the everyday by making technology feel effortless, like Pulse and Notion.He joins Aditya Agarwal to share the counterintuitive lessons behind enduring products, why selling can sometimes be the braver choice, and how constraints often spark lasting creativity. Apply to SPC membership - https://airtable.com/appxDXHfPCZvb75qk/pagIZspLSFX7QrXcn/formConnect with us here:1. Akshay Kothari- https://www.linkedin.com/in/akothari/2. Aditya Agarwal- https://www.linkedin.com/in/adityaagarwal3/3. South Park Commons- https://www.linkedin.com/company/southparkcommons/00:00 Trailer01:02 Welcome to the Minus One Podcast01:49 Navigating the Early Days of Pulse06:59 The Silicon Valley Influence and Ambition21:07 The LinkedIn Journey and Its Impact22:39 Balancing Patience and Urgency in Silicon Valley25:25 The Vision and Early Days of Notion36:46 Personal Reflections and Philosophies

John Hunt presents to The Space Show are ready! Sunday, 10-5-25For the quick summary, we started our program with John Hunt as the guest talking about nuclear weapons development and space exploration technologies. The Space Show participants in the Zoom meeting explored various aspects of nuclear weapons history, including bomb designs, testing, and strategic implications, while also discussing the potential for nuclear technologies in space missions and propulsion systems. The conversation concluded with discussions about current and future space exploration initiatives, including reactor technologies and launch schedules, with participants expressing concerns about political and technical challenges. Several Space Show participants were with us in the meeting including Marshall Martin, Peter Forman, John Jossy, Dr. Ajay Kothari, Dr. Phil Swan, Dr. James Benford, & Tim WeaverOur more detailed summary follows. John Hunt discussed his presentation on the evolution of nuclear weapons, including its funding and technological aspects. Marshall shared his interest in manufacturing composites and nanocarbon tubes in space, predicting that medical applications and materials science would be the next big cash cows in space development and was looking to connect the dots to the early tech being discussed by John Hunt. We discussed the potential for producing semiconductors and nanotubes in space, with Marshall suggesting that zero-gravity environments could enable the production of longer nanotubes for stronger materials like nanotube rope, which could be used in space elevators.David Livingston introduced the Sunday Space Show program, mentioning upcoming guests and topics, including a discussion on nuclear weapon development and its impact on space with John Hunt. The conversation ended with introductions of various participants and a brief overview of the show's format.Early on John introduced us to Project Orion as he mentioned his history interest including the work of Freeman Dyson's son, George Dyson who wrote a book about his fathers work. John Jossy expressed interest in reading the book, and they discussed the now-defunct nuclear space website, which had provided valuable information.Hunt discussed the history and development of nuclear weapons, focusing on the physics behind atomic and nuclear fission, and the creation of the first atomic bombs, “Little Boy” and “Fat Man,” used in World War II. He explained the evolution of bomb designs, including the transition from solid to hollow core plutonium spheres for improved yield and the introduction of fusion components in the Teller-Ulam design, which significantly increased explosive power. John also highlighted the Soviet Union's alternative “layer cake” design, which used a central fission bomb surrounded by a lithium deuteride layer for fusion, and noted the cryogenic technology developed for these weapons, which later found applications in space exploration.Our guest explained the evolution of nuclear weapons, focusing on the development of thermonuclear bombs and their components. He described how lithium deuteride was used in fusion reactions, leading to the creation of tritium and increased yield through fission. The discussion covered various weapon designs, including the Mark 17, Mark 28, and the 25-megaton Mark 41 bomb. John also mentioned Ted Taylor's contributions to bomb design and his work on the Orion nuclear-powered spacecraft project, which was canceled due to the Test Ban Treaty.The discussion focused on historical nuclear weapons development, John Hunt explaining that Project Orion conducted conventional explosive tests but never pursued nuclear testing. David suggested visiting government nuclear museums across the US, including Las Vegas and New Mexico, which house exhibits and remnants of nuclear testing. The conversation then shifted to the evolution of nuclear weapons, noting that while the Soviet Tsar bomb was primarily a propaganda device, the US responded by developing smaller, multiple-warhead systems to counter potential ABM defenses, leading to a shift from large single-warhead bombs to more numerous but smaller thermonuclear devices, with both countries eventually deploying around 100,000 strategic warheads each by the mid-1980s.The discussion focused on nuclear weapons and missile defense systems. Hunt explained that Soviet ICBM deployments were initially vulnerable to Minuteman III counterforce capabilities, but Russian silo hardening and U.S. missile number limitations led to Russian achievement of assured destruction capability. The group then discussed a 1957 nuclear test where a manhole cover was launched at escape velocity speeds, with guest James noting this was a deliberate test and not accidental. The conversation concluded with a discussion of current missile defense systems, including the Golden Dome concept using hit-to-kill interceptors, and concerns about North Korea's development of MERV missiles.Next up was a discussion regarding the strategic implications of nuclear weapons, particularly focusing on the challenges of responding to a North Korean attack due to the complex geopolitical landscape involving Russia, China, Japan, and South Korea. They explored the potential electromagnetic pulse (EMP) effects of nuclear weapons on satellite systems like Starlink and the historical development of anti-ballistic missile systems, including exo-atmospheric and microwave-induced detonation technologies. James shared insights from his experience with Soviet microwave weapons research, noting that while these systems were studied extensively, they were never deployed. The conversation concluded with a question about the transition from using nuclear power in satellites to planning for its use on the surfaces of the moon and Mars.We also talked about the history and future of nuclear technology in space exploration, with James noting that nuclear rockets could enable substantial payloads for solar system exploration. They explored how nuclear technology developed from weapons to civilian power, with Hunt suggesting that without the military budget, space program development would have been slower. Ajay raised questions about Russia's Burevestnik nuclear-powered missile program, which James and Hunt explained was similar to a canceled US program but deemed impractical due to radioactive contamination risks.Ajay focused on nuclear reactor technologies, particularly molten salt reactors and uranium isotopes. Dr. Kothari explained that molten salt reactors using uranium-233 could be safer in the event of an accident as the molten salt would freeze and become non-fissile upon contact with the ground. Hunt noted that uranium-233's higher radioactivity makes it difficult to handle, while confirming it produces similar energy output to other isotopes. The conversation concluded with a discussion about the feasibility of gun-launched space missions, with several participants expressing skepticism about spin launch concepts due to drag issues at high speeds, while Phil suggested that robust propulsion technology could handle high G-forces.The feasibility of hypersonic velocities and space travel was brought up with Phil asserting that it's possible to achieve orbital velocity despite atmospheric drag, while others, including and James, disagreed, citing significant challenges. The conversation shifted to the potential of nuclear technologies for space travel, with Phil suggesting underground nuclear explosions to power rockets, though Jossy noted legal and operational limitations. James highlighted the need for high-thrust rockets for interplanetary travel. They mentioned a promising paper on a centrifugal liquid-fuel propulsion system with a high specific impulse, which could be a significant advancement for space travel.We had much to say about nuclear rockets, with Phil explaining that nuclear rockets face challenges with the Oberth effect due to their inability to provide short, high-thrust bursts compared to chemical rockets. Marshall raised concerns about the potential impact of nuclear rocket launches on space stations, but Phil suggested that the radiation environment in space would make astronauts less concerned about nuclear launches. Hunt provided insights into contemporary nuclear weapons, noting that most are thermonuclear and that Russia is attempting to become a near-parity power with the U.S. and China. The discussion concluded with John explaining the potential risks and political implications of Russia using tactical nuclear weapons, emphasizing the importance of avoiding an escalation to full-scale nuclear war.Before ending we discussed nuclear power options for space missions, particularly focusing on a 100-kilowatt fission reactor planned for the moon by 2030. Marshall and others debated whether government or commercial entities should develop these reactors, with Marshall suggesting a public-private partnership might be best. The conversation concluded with a discussion about Artemis II's February 5th launch date, with participants expressing skepticism about whether it would actually proceed as scheduled, given NASA's history of delays.This program is audio archived at www.thespaceshow.com and doctorspace.substack.com for this program date. The Zoom video is also archived on our Substack site.Special thanks to our sponsors:Northrup Grumman, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Helix Space in Luxembourg, Celestis Memorial Spaceflights, Astrox Corporation, Dr. Haym Benaroya of Rutgers University, The Space Settlement Progress Blog by John Jossy, The Atlantis Project, and Artless EntertainmentOur Toll Free Line for Live Broadcasts: 1-866-687-7223For real time program participation, email Dr. Space at: drspace@thespaceshow.comThe Space Show is a non-profit 501C3 through its parent, One Giant Leap Foundation, Inc. To donate via Pay Pal, use:To donate with Zelle, use the email address: david@onegiantleapfoundation.org.If you prefer donating with a check, please make the check payable to One Giant Leap Foundation and mail to:One Giant Leap Foundation, 11035 Lavender Hill Drive Ste. 160-306 Las Vegas, NV 89135Upcoming Programs:No program for Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025 | Tuesday 07 Oct 2025 700PM PTGuests: Dr. David LivingstonNo program for today, Oct. 7, 2025Broadcast 4441 Hotel Mars featuring Mark Whittington, journalist | Wednesday 08 Oct 2025 930AM PTGuests: Mark Whittington, John Batchelor, Dr. David LivingstonHotel Mars with Mark Whittington on NASA Life on Mars Announcement and moreBroadcast 4442: Andrew Chanin | Friday 10 Oct 2025 930AM PTGuests: Andrew ChaninAndrew talks about the ETF market, commercial space investment and trendsBroadcast 4443 Jack Kingdon | Sunday 12 Oct 2025 1200PM PTGuests: Jack KingdonJack discusses his paper “3 months transit time to Mars for human missions using SpaceX Starship”Special thanks to our sponsors:Northrup Grumman, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Helix Space in Luxembourg, Celestis Memorial Spaceflights, Astrox Corporation, Dr. Haym Benaroya of Rutgers University, The Space Settlement Progress Blog by John Jossy, The Atlantis Project, and Artless EntertainmentOur Toll Free Line for Live Broadcasts: 1-866-687-7223For real time program participation, email Dr. Space at: drspace@thespaceshow.comThe Space Show is a non-profit 501C3 through its parent, One Giant Leap Foundation, Inc. To donate via Pay Pal, use:To donate with Zelle, use the email address: david@onegiantleapfoundation.org.If you prefer donating with a check, please make the check payable to One Giant Leap Foundation and mail to:One Giant Leap Foundation, 11035 Lavender Hill Drive Ste. 160-306 Las Vegas, NV 89135Upcoming Programs:No program for Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025 | Tuesday 07 Oct 2025 700PM PTGuests: Dr. David LivingstonNo program for today, Oct. 7, 2025Broadcast 4441 Hotel Mars featuring Mark Whittington, journalist | Wednesday 08 Oct 2025 930AM PTGuests: Mark Whittington, John Batchelor, Dr. David LivingstonHotel Mars with Mark Whittington on NASA Life on Mars Announcement and moreBroadcast 4442: Andrew Chanin | Friday 10 Oct 2025 930AM PTGuests: Andrew ChaninAndrew talks about the ETF market, commercial space investment and trendsBroadcast 4443 Jack Kingdon | Sunday 12 Oct 2025 1200PM PTGuests: Jack KingdonJack discusses his paper “3 months transit time to Mars for human missions using SpaceX Starship”Live Streaming is at https://www.thespaceshow.com/content/listen-live with the following live streaming sites:Stream Guys https://player.streamguys.com/thespaceshow/sgplayer3/player.php#FastServ https://ic2646c302.fastserv.com/streamStream Guys https://player.streamguys.com/thespaceshow/sgplayer3/player.php#FastServ https://ic2646c302.fastserv.com/stream Get full access to The Space Show-One Giant Leap Foundation at doctorspace.substack.com/subscribe

The Space Show presents Dr. Kothari and his art show! Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2025Summary by Zoom. Edited.Our program for today consisted of a virtual gallery tour of Dr. Ajay Kothari's art exhibit at the Antique Den gallery in Fairfax, Va. Gallery owner Kei, along with Dr. Kothari, introduced the exhibit featuring approximately 40 paintings. They discussed our online Zoom tour. Kei presented the format for the program, helped in doing a gallery panorama of all the paintings plus she handled the smart phone camera while AJ explained various paintings, discussing his techniques, themes, and prices for each painting, all while sharing his artistic background and dedication to his work. Our Space Show audience inquired about the success of the exhibition, including strong attendance. Strong positive feedback was reported. In his talk at the beginning of the “tour”, AJ connected the dots with his artwork, vision and space. Due to the nature of several of his paintings, Dr. Kothari explored topics like space exploration and environmental responsibility plus the care of all animals and life here on our home planet. Space Show listeners sharing the Zoom meeting with us included Bill Gowan, Dr. Sherry Bell, and John Hunt.Kei and Ajay discussed the connection between abstract art and the universe, emphasizing the importance of abstract representations in capturing the essence of cosmic phenomena. Ajay highlighted the responsibility humans have to care for Earth's unique life forms, as they may be the only ones in the universe, and stressed the need for continued evolution in the third dimension through space exploration and scientific advancement. He argued that this vision should unite people globally, including artists, authors, and musicians, to support space exploration as an integral part of humanity's future.Ajay presented several of his paintings, explaining their themes and techniques. Early on, he discussed works such as “Ephemeral 4,” which captures a moment of dancers in motion, and “Conflict of Straight and Curb,” which explores the tension between straight and curved lines. Also shown were paintings titled “Angst,” “Big Bang Theory,” and “Non-Anger,” telling us how they convey different emotions and concepts.Ajay's gallery tour was in order of the way the paintings were displayed in the gallery. He highlighted a very unique and colorful painting of a Native American, expressing his feelings about the lack of representation of Native Americans in media and politics.Ajay had a few landscape paintings including specific works like “Father of the Jungle” and “East Meets West at Amber Fort.” During our virtual tour, he clarified that most of the paintings were either oil or acrylic on canvas, with a few exceptions. By the way, for each painting he also told us its price/. He mentioned that one painting had been sold recently with interest in several more. The discussion included comments from Bill regarding his skill in depicting skies and a brief exchange about the use of palette knives in some of the paintings.Ajay was asked to explain his pricing strategy for his paintings, which he said is based on analogy to previously sold works and relative size. I jokingly asked how his health was, and should we buy one of his paintings, might we see a quick boost in price due to a health problem. Ajay laughed along with me and assured us all that his health is good, and prices are unlikely to inflate suddenly. Ajay expressed his belief that science, art, and philosophy should be integrated, and emphasized the need for a strong vision in leadership roles like the NASA head. The discussion concluded with Ajay sharing his artistic background and dedication to his work, and Bill expressing admiration for his artistic achievements.Space Show participant Bill raised a question about planetary protection at Mars given one of Ajay's paintings of Mars – see our tour to see and learn more about this painting. In response, Ajay expressed little interest in the planetary defense topic, instead emphasizing the importance of space exploration and human cognitive evolution, while expressing skepticism about the feasibility of large-scale human migration to Mars within the next few centuries.I asked everyone, including gallery owner Kei, to share with us their favorite painting(s) in Ajay's collection. I told everyone that I really liked several pieces including the Ballerina, red sky and ocean paintings, and the very special Mars piece. Sherry and Bill shared their preferences, with Sherry liking an arch-inspired painting and Bill appreciating the abstract piece called “Uncertain” and another titled “Angst.”Before ending, Sherry suggested exploring merchandise opportunities featuring his artwork, such as totes and purses, to expand market reach. Ajay shared his thoughts on using his art to make a case for science, space exploration, and environmental responsibility in a potential future Senate confirmation hearing should Dr. Kothari ever be tapped for a high-level government policy appointment position. We concluded this Space Show program by thanking both Kei and Ajay for hosting the exhibition and to all participants for their attendance in this very special and unique Space Show program.Special thanks to our sponsors:Northrup Grumman, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Helix Space in Luxembourg, Celestis Memorial Spaceflights, Astrox Corporation, Dr. Haym Benaroya of Rutgers University, The Space Settlement Progress Blog by John Jossy, The Atlantis Project, and Artless EntertainmentOur Toll Free Line for Live Broadcasts: 1-866-687-7223For real time program participation, email Dr. Space at: drspace@thespaceshow.comThe Space Show is a non-profit 501C3 through its parent, One Giant Leap Foundation, Inc. To donate via Pay Pal, use:To donate with Zelle, use the email address: david@onegiantleapfoundation.org.If you prefer donating with a check, please make the check payable to One Giant Leap Foundation and mail to:One Giant Leap Foundation, 11035 Lavender Hill Drive Ste. 160-306 Las Vegas, NV 89135Upcoming Programs:Broadcast 4437 Zoom: OPEN LINES DISCUSSION | Sunday 28 Sep 2025 1200PM PTGuests: Dr. David LivingstonZOOM Open Lines Discussion. Listen/participate w/Zoom phone numbers to be published on our blog for this programSpecial thanks to our sponsors:Northrup Grumman, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Helix Space in Luxembourg, Celestis Memorial Spaceflights, Astrox Corporation, Dr. Haym Benaroya of Rutgers University, The Space Settlement Progress Blog by John Jossy, The Atlantis Project, and Artless Entertainment Get full access to The Space Show-One Giant Leap Foundation at doctorspace.substack.com/subscribe

Our program for today consisted of a virtual gallery tour of Dr. Ajay Kothari's art exhibit at the Antique Den gallery in Fairfax, Va. Gallery owner Kei, along with Dr. Kothari, introduced the exhibit featuring approximately 40 paintings. They discussed our online Zoom tour. Kei presented the format for the program, helped in doing a gallery panorama of all the paintings plus she handled the smart phone camera while AJ explained various paintings, discussing his techniques, themes, and prices for each painting, all while sharing his artistic background and dedication to his work. Our Space Show audience inquired about the success of the exhibition, including strong attendance. Strong positive feedback was reported. In his talk at the beginning of the “tour”, AJ connected the dots with his artwork, vision and space. Due to the nature of several of his paintings, Dr. Kothari explored topics like space exploration and science and humanity. Be sure to see this program on Zoom video which you can only see on our Substack page, doctorspace.substack.com.

Summary for The Space Show presents Dean Cheng Friday, 9-19-25Summary by Zoom, edited.AN IMPORTANT NOTE: The Space Show website, www.thespaceshow.com, is undergoing a denial of service attack. Our hosting company and website manager are working to stop it but I suspect it might continue for a few more days until it can be controlled through various means we are using. In the meantime, you do have sporadic access so keep trying. Otherwise, it is important to note that all our information, our archived programs such as this one, newsletter and information on guests can be found on our Substack page, doctorspace.substack.com. In addition, are posting the Zoom videos to most of our Zoom program on this Substack page along with the audio version of the show. As for podcasting, that will be delayed because it needs for our program mp3 to be posted to The Space Show website. If I am unable to access the site due to the ongoing attack, it means I am unable to upload to our podcast server. We do have podcasting engaged on our Substack page so you might check that out and subscribe as an alternative way to get the programs via podcasting Thank you.We began this Space Show program with our guest, Dean Cheng, with a discussion about U.S.-China space relations and the Wolf Amendment's restrictions on NASA interactions with China, followed by an exploration of space exploration priorities and strategic considerations regarding lunar and Martian missions. The conversation then shifted to examining China's approach to space exploration and its historical context, including cultural motivations and diplomatic strategies, while also discussing the potential implications of directed energy weapons in space. The conversation ended with technical discussions about the Space Show's live caller participation system and its limitations, along with a brief discussion about tax-deductible donations. Detail follows. Space Show participants included John Hunt, Dr. Charles Lurio, Marshall Martin, Michael Listner, Atty, and Dr. Ajay Kothari.David and Dean discussed the Wolf Amendment and its implications for U.S.-China relations in space. Dean clarified that while Congress is not prohibited from talking to the Chinese, NASA, OSTP, and the National Space Council are restricted. They also briefly touched on the contrast between U.S. engagement with China in areas like business and education versus space policy. The conversation ended with David mentioning recent shows featuring security experts and potential future discussions on China-related topics. In addition, Dean outlined the Wolf amendment's specifics and his position on maintaining it plus he did explain why he holds the position he has on this item.Our Space Show group discussed perspectives on space exploration priorities, with David mentioning a debate between focusing on the moon versus Mars among his listeners. Dean shared his view that both the moon and Mars are strategically important for competition with China, particularly regarding cislunar space governance and the potential for China to be first to bring back Mars samples. The conversation highlighted differing opinions on space exploration approaches, including concerns about the Artemis program and alternative methods using SpaceX's Starship technology.Per the Wolf Amendment, Dean went on to discuss the challenges and risks of engaging with Chinese companies in the space and technology sectors, particularly regarding national security concerns and data protection. Dean explained that while private industry and government have different equities and vulnerabilities, the Wolf Amendment restricts certain government interactions with China, though its potential repeal is uncertain. They debated whether commercial competition with China should take precedence over national security concerns, with Dean arguing that China's state-controlled economy and access to sensitive information present significant risks that should not be underestimated.Dean explained why getting to the moon before China is important, highlighting concerns about U.S. capabilities and China's plans for a sustained lunar presence. He noted that China's competitive approach, including their "dual circulation" strategy, could give them an edge in space. Dean acknowledged that the U.S. has fallen behind its 2024 moon landing commitment and expressed concerns about our ability to sustain a lunar program at $4 billion per launch. Michael discussed how China approaches space strategy differently from the West, comparing it to a "game of go" rather than chess, and suggested that China's actions in the South China Sea could be a model for their space activities.Dean talked about the importance of understanding different negotiation styles, particularly comparing business and diplomatic approaches, and emphasized that China's actions are driven by a desire to restore its historical greatness rather than just financial gain. Dr. Kothari highlighted the cultural and civilizational pride underlying China and India's ambitious space programs, noting how these initiatives resonate with historical and divine identifications for their people. The discussion touched on how leaders like Xi Jinping tie national ambitions to reviving past glory, with China's space program being a key component of this broader vision.Our guest brought up the historical evolution of space exploration, comparing it to three distinct eras: Space 1.0 during the Cold War, Space 2.0 from the end of the Cold War to the early 2000s, and current Space 3.0 with China's increased involvement. He emphasized that China's approach to space engagement differs from cooperation, noting their strategic relationships and the absence of American involvement in the Chinese space station. Dean also highlighted the importance of understanding the historical context of space diplomacy and the role of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) in Chinese space initiatives.Dean continued to discuss the potential implications of the Trump administration's Golden Dome concept, emphasizing that while it presents interesting opportunities with advances in directed energy and other technologies, it also raises strategic stability concerns similar to those in the 1960s and 70s. He noted that the significant reduction in cost to orbit and increased launch cadence could impact feasibility and affect China's strategic calculations. Ajay raised questions about the legality and effectiveness of deploying directed energy weapons in space, to which Dean clarified that, under the Outer Space Treaty, nuclear weapons are prohibited, but other forms of directed energy weapons are legal.Our continued discussion focused on cultural and civilizational perspectives in space exploration, with Charles and Ajay highlighting how China's space ambitions are tied to its historical narrative of "century of humiliation" and India's interest in mythological stories. Dean shared historical perspectives on Manifest Destiny, noting how other countries viewed the United States' expansion in the 19th century, particularly the concerns in European capitals about America's battle-hardened military. The conversation concluded with a discussion about how different countries' historical expansions were viewed, with Dean pointing out that while Manifest Destiny had a specific term, other countries' expansions were similarly motivated by available technology and historical context.Moving on, we focused on cultural and historical perspectives on space exploration, particularly comparing Chinese and Indian approaches. Dean explained how Chinese science fiction like "The Three-Body Problem" presents different approaches to alien contact than Western narratives, reflecting China's historical experiences and cultural context. The conversation also explored China's long-term planning capabilities through its 5-year plans and Project 921, which has provided stability for the Chinese Human Space Flight Program over decades. Ajay shared a unique perspective on India's historical relationship with the West, noting that while India has civilizational pride dating back to before 1000 AD, the country's more recent history of damage came from Islamic invasions rather than Western influence, making India more open to cooperation with the United States.Dean discussed China's competitive approach to commercial space development, highlighting their deployment of multiple PEO constellations and the strategic implications for military surveillance. He explained that China views the West, particularly the US and its entrepreneurs, as a threat, and noted that China's private sector aerospace investment began in 2014-2015 in response to Western commercial companies like SpaceX. The discussion also covered China's lunar program, which aims to establish an International Lunar Research Station, and potential human missions to Mars, with Dean suggesting that if China were first to put humans on Mars, it could significantly enhance CCP legitimacy. Charles and Ajay contributed insights about America's historical challenges with space program funding and China's development of thorium nuclear power technology.We did a bit of Space Show business at the end of the program. I discussed the current format and challenges with the Space Show's live caller participation system. I explained that while listeners can still call in via Zoom phone lines, most prefer to participate through email rather than phone calls, leading to limited live audience engagement during Zoom shows. The group discussed technical limitations preventing the integration of the toll-free line with Zoom due to audio quality concerns, and David emphasized that while he encourages caller participation, he won't compromise audio quality to accommodate it. The discussion also touched on the need to continue to donate to The Space Show which is a nonprofit 501C3. See the PayPal button on the right side of our home page or in the Substack program summaries in the sponsor and upcoming program section.Thank you.Dr. SpaceSpecial thanks to our sponsors:Northrup Grumman, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Helix Space in Luxembourg, Celestis Memorial Spaceflights, Astrox Corporation, Dr. Haym Benaroya of Rutgers University, The Space Settlement Progress Blog by John Jossy, The Atlantis Project, and Artless EntertainmentOur Toll Free Line for Live Broadcasts: 1-866-687-7223For real time program participation, email Dr. Space at: drspace@thespaceshow.comThe Space Show is a non-profit 501C3 through its parent, One Giant Leap Foundation, Inc. To donate via Pay Pal, use:To donate with Zelle, use the email address: david@onegiantleapfoundation.org.If you prefer donating with a check, please make the check payable to One Giant Leap Foundation and mail to:One Giant Leap Foundation, 11035 Lavender Hill Drive Ste. 160-306 Las Vegas, NV 89135Upcoming Programs:Broadcast 4435: ZOOM Dr. Ajay Kothari | Tuesday 23 Sep 2025 1230PM PTGuests: Dr. Ajay KothariAjay shows us his art exhibit via Zoom live from the Fairfax GalleryBroadcast 4436 Hotel Mars with Ben Roberts | Wednesday 24 Sep 2025 930AM PTGuests: John Batchelor, Dr. David Livingston, Ben RobertsHotel Mars discusses microgravity medicine with Ben RobertsBroadcast 4437 Zoom: OPEN LINES DISCUSSION | Sunday 28 Sep 2025 1200PM PTGuests: Dr. David LivingstonZOOM Open Lines Discussion. Listen/participate w/Zoom phone numbers to be published on our blog for this program Get full access to The Space Show-One Giant Leap Foundation at doctorspace.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode of Tank Talks, host Matt Cohen sits down with Nikunj Kothari, Partner at FPV Ventures, to explore his journey from product leader at LinkedIn, Opendoor, and Meter to early-stage investor. Nikunj shares candid insights on why the best companies thrive under benevolent dictatorships, how AI is reshaping SaaS pricing models, and what makes founders truly exceptional.From his early years growing up in India to becoming one of the most thoughtful voices in venture, Nikunj opens up about his decision to leave operating roles, his angel investing beginnings, and his transition to VC at storied firm Khosla Ventures before joining FPV. He also dives deep into evaluating founders, navigating hypergrowth, and why outcome-based pricing may define the next decade of SaaS.Whether you're a founder looking to scale, an investor trying to spot the next breakout company, or simply curious about how AI is rewriting business models, this episode is packed with hard-earned lessons and bold ideas.A Quick Word from our Sponsor, FaskenAt Fasken, our clients don't wait for the future. They build it. As the first and largest dedicated emerging tech practice in Canada, our team is composed of founders, ex in-house counsel, developers and business advisors who have guided clients from startup, to scale-up, to exit. The trust of our clients has enabled us to consistently rank at the top of every major Canadian M&A, Capital Markets and Venture Capital league table. With deep industry knowledge and experience across all areas of emerging and high growth technology including ClimateTech, MedTech, Artificial Intelligence, Fintech, and AgTech we're your partners within the innovation ecosystem as you transform the landscape of what's possible.Tomorrow starts here. Own it with us.For more information, visit fasken.com/emergingtech and follow us on LinkedIn.From India to Silicon Valley: Nikunj's Early Journey (00:08:21)How his blend of engineering, design, and business led him to product management at LinkedIn and startups.Learning From Hypergrowth at LinkedIn and Opendoor (00:011:23)Why talent density and ambitious missions drive scaling organizations.The Investor's Lens: Spotting Latitude in Founders (00:013:32)Nikunj's framework for evaluating founder vision and depth at the earliest stages.Why the Best Companies Are Benevolent Dictatorships (00:015:39)How companies like Shopify and Coinbase thrive under strong, opinionated leaders.The Tension for Non-Founders in Dictatorship Environments (00:21:09)Nikunj's personal lessons as a PM executing a founder's vision.The Pivot to Investing: From Angel Checks to Khosla Ventures (00:23:26)Why he left operating roles, and what he had to unlearn as he became a VC.Joining FPV Ventures and Betting on Founder POVs (00:27:18)How FPV approaches concentrated early-stage investing with diligence and conviction.Gross Margins, Kingmaking, and the VC Trap (00:32:09)Why focusing on revenue quality matters more than chasing top-line growth.AI and the Future of SaaS Pricing Models (00:39:31)How outcome-based and usage-based pricing will disrupt per-seat SaaS models.Navigating Enterprise AI Adoption (00:44:22)The role of champions in enterprise sales and lessons from scar tissue in early adoption.Competing in Crowded Markets: The Series A Challenge (00:47:31)Why exceptional founders and market depth matter more than being first.Hot Takes: Solo Founders in the AI Era and the Future of IPOs (00:54:24)Nikunj's contrarian views on solo founders and whether Canva will go public.About Nikunj KothariNikunj Kothari is a Partner at FPV Ventures, where he focuses on early-stage investments with a founder-first approach. Previously, he was a product leader at LinkedIn, Opendoor, and Meter, where he helped scale hypergrowth startups and navigate tough product challenges. Nikunj began angel investing while at Opendoor and later joined Khosla Ventures, before moving to FPV to pursue concentrated, high-conviction seed and Series A investments. Known for his sharp writing on venture and product strategy, Nikunj has become a leading voice on topics ranging from benevolent dictatorships to the future of SaaS pricing.Connect with Nikunj Kothari on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikunjkVisit the FPV Ventures website: https://fpvventures.com/Connect with Matt Cohen on LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/matt-cohen1Visit the Ripple Ventures website: https://www.rippleventures.com/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tanktalks.substack.com

We welcomed our guest, Dr. Namrata Goswami, with the objectives of exploring China's lunar ambitions and space policies, comparing them to US initiatives while discussing the implications for commercial space activities and national security. The discussion concluded with analyses of China's strategic energy initiatives and space technology development, including their approach to commercial space partnerships and the potential impact of U.S. sanctions on Russian oil imports on India's space relationships. Space Show participants included Marshal Martin, Dr. Ajay Kothari, Rick Kwan, John Hunt, Dr. Charles Lurio and Amir Notea.As a group discussed recent changes in U.S. space policy and personnel, including the departure of a controversial now ambassador to India. Namrata Goswami returned as a guest to analyze these developments. They also reviewed SpaceX's successful Starship Demo 10 flight and discussed the importance of India as a strategic partner in space. The show highlighted upcoming events, including an art exhibition by Dr. Kothari in Fairfax, Virginia, and encouraged listeners to support the Space Show through donations or sponsorships.Namrata discussed China's lunar program, highlighting its focus on building an industrial capacity and infrastructure on the moon by 2036, including a 1 megawatt nuclear energy capability. She compared this to the US Artemis program, noting that while both aim to build lunar bases, China's ambitions are on a larger scale. Namrata also addressed concerns about China potentially misbehaving on the moon, explaining that China's strategic culture, as a one-party state, has historically involved occupying resource-rich areas. She suggested that the US needs to enhance its cislunar domain awareness, establish clear policy guidance for lunar infrastructure development, and take leadership in creating a regulatory structure for lunar activities to counter China's ambitions.Namrata discussed the evolving discourse on space policy, highlighting how legal systems established in the 1960s and 1970s did not anticipate the current commercial space sector. She noted that while her research and analysis are reflected in some policy documents, there is still a need to address the global nature of space activities and the importance of space infrastructure. David inquired about the impact of Namrata's work on space policy, to which she explained that her research has influenced national security considerations and policy discussions, though not directly leading to specific policy outcomes.Charles inquired about China's plans for their Long March 10 and 9 rockets, and Namrata clarified the differences between the two. She explained that the Long March 10A is a non-reusable rocket intended for lunar missions by 2030, while the Long March 9 is a heavy-lift rocket designed to be partially reusable by 2030, with a goal of full reusability by 2040. Namrata also highlighted that China's space program is driven by specific missions and infrastructure goals, such as space-based solar power and a Mars base, and emphasized the ideological purposes behind their rocket development, similar to SpaceX's narrative.The discussion focused on comparing China's commercial space sector with the US model. Namrata explained that while the US has a traditional public-private partnership where government funds commercial space activities through agencies like NASA, China's system is more integrated with government funding and direction. She noted that China's commercial space companies, though not state-owned, receive significant government funding and operate under a legal framework where they must support national defense and security initiatives if requested. The conversation highlighted how China's approach has allowed it to become an innovation powerhouse in areas like quantum computing and AI, while maintaining control over strategic technologies through its National Defense Law.The discussion next focused on the potential impact of U.S. sanctions on Russian oil imports on India's space partnership with the U.S. Namrata explained that while India has economic concerns about oil prices affecting its population, the space partnership remains strong, with ongoing collaborations including NASA's NISAR satellite launch and human spaceflight programs. The conversation also explored space policies in the Middle East, particularly the United Arab Emirates' ambitious goals including Mars missions and space resource utilization, as well as Saudi Arabia's plans for a spaceport and smart city. The group discussed whether sanctions on Russian oil would force India and China to comply with U.S. demands, with Namrata noting that economic sanctions could be challenging in India due to its large population and dependence on oil imports, though the outcome remained uncertain.Namrata discussed China's strategic energy initiatives, particularly their discovery of thorium deposits and development of nuclear and space-based solar power programs per comments from Ajay. Namrata explained that under President Xi Jinping, China has identified energy as a critical strategic area due to concerns about energy security and the "Malacca Dilemma," and has been investing heavily in alternative energy sources and space technology. The conversation ended with Marshall expressing his impression of SpaceX's Starship 10 launch, while Rick announced he would soon be traveling to China.Please see the Zoom video of this program a doctorspace.substack.com. The program audio will also be posted on Substack along with being posted on TSS website. Special thanks to our sponsors:Northrup Grumman, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Helix Space in Luxembourg, Celestis Memorial Spaceflights, Astrox Corporation, Dr. Haym Benaroya of Rutgers University, The Space Settlement Progress Blog by John Jossy, The Atlantis Project, and Artless EntertainmentOur Toll Free Line for Live Broadcasts: 1-866-687-7223For real time program participation, email Dr. Space at: drspace@thespaceshow.comThe Space Show is a non-profit 501C3 through its parent, One Giant Leap Foundation, Inc. To donate via Pay Pal, use:To donate with Zelle, use the email address: david@onegiantleapfoundation.org.If you prefer donating with a check, please make the check payable to One Giant Leap Foundation and mail to:One Giant Leap Foundation, 11035 Lavender Hill Drive Ste. 160-306 Las Vegas, NV 89135Upcoming Programs:No program on Sunday August 31 due to Labor Day Holiday Weekend.Live Streaming is at https://www.thespaceshow.com/content/listen-live with the following live streaming sites:Stream Guys https://player.streamguys.com/thespaceshow/sgplayer3/player.php#FastServhttps://ic2646c302.fastserv.com/stream Get full access to The Space Show-One Giant Leap Foundation at doctorspace.substack.com/subscribe

OL for Sunday, 8-24-25 Meeting summaryOur Open Lines program began with members of our Advisory Board in the Zoom meeting on casual conversation about the upcoming Starship test 10 flight. The group then explored various space-related topics including more Starship test flights, SpaceX, lunar landing architectures, and NASA's Artemis program, while also discussing the importance of public communication about space exploration and its potential benefits. The conversation ended with discussions about scientific discoveries, upcoming shows featuring space policy experts, and an art showing by Dr. Kothari, along with additional updates about the upcoming Starship launch.Our pre-program conversation ended with David announcing upcoming Space Show programs, including a discussion with Dr. Namrata Goswami about national security and the Chinese space program, and a potential interview with Greta, an emeritus professor from Yale who has a new thesis about the extinction of dinosaurs. Space Show program participants included Marshall Martin, John Jossy, Rick Kwan, Michael Listner, John Hunt, and Dr. A.J. Kothari.We started the actual meeting by talking about the upcoming Starship test flight (it was postponed), with Marshall estimating a 60% chance of success. They debated how success should be measured, with John Jossy noting that while not blowing up is a success, completing a good percentage of experiments is also important. Rick and Marshall discussed the transition from version 2 to version 3 of Starship, with Marshall noting that the main upgrade is replacing Raptor 2 engines with Raptor 3 engines. The group also touched on the challenges of keeping the dry weight low while maximizing payload capacity for Mars missions. They concluded that a failed test would likely have a cascading effect on schedules, particularly for Artemis, but that SpaceX has the financial resources to continue development.The group discussed the number of test flights needed for SpaceX's Starship, with Marshall suggesting 11 flights based on his spreadsheet analysis. They debated the risks of betting on the Artemis program's timeline to beat China to the moon, with John Hunt and David expressing concerns about the current infrastructure and delays. Rick noted that Chinese technology is rapidly improving, potentially making it harder to catch up. The discussion concluded with David suggesting that Congress might not be as motivated to play catch-up with China as previous generations were with the Soviets.In addition, we discussed potential lunar landing and return architectures, with Marshall proposing to use Dragon in the nose of a Starship for moon landings, though Dr. Kothari pointed out that Dragon lacks sufficient delta-V for lunar takeoff. Ajay raised concerns about the need for NRHO operations to continue despite budget constraints, while Marshall suggested repurposing Starship as a moon base by tilting it and connecting to future Starships, which would create a legal claim on the moon. The discussion concluded with John Jossy noting that current law mandates continued use of SLS, Orion, and Gateway through Artemis 5, suggesting any architectural changes would need legislative approval.The group discussed NASA's Artemis program and leadership challenges. David expressed concerns about the lack of full-time NASA leadership and the need for better communication to the general public about space exploration's importance. Michael Listner suggested that a permanent NASA administrator might not be necessary and that the current political situation would likely remain unchanged for the foreseeable future. The group agreed to attend a special Space Show program with Mike Gold on August 28th to further discuss these issues.The group discussed the importance of both informing the public and conducting scientific/engineering work in space. Rick presented three key space manufacturing opportunities: pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, and fiber optics, noting progress through NASA's InSpace program led by Lynn Harper. They explored the potential for quantum computing in space, particularly on the moon where cooler temperatures would enable more efficient operation, and discussed the O'Neilian dream of moving heavy manufacturing into space to address environmental concerns. The conversation concluded with a discussion about the intersection of quantum computing and artificial intelligence, though concerns were raised about whether these technical advancements would resonate with the general public.Together we talked about the benefits of space research and its potential to improve lives through medical advancements, such as 3D printing of organs and artificial tissues, which could address critical shortages in organ transplants. They emphasized the importance of effectively communicating these benefits to the public, suggesting that focusing on current achievements and practical applications, rather than overhyping future possibilities, would help gain public support for space exploration. Marshall highlighted the economic potential of Starlink, predicting significant revenue that could fund future space endeavors, while Michael and others stressed the need to highlight existing technologies and their impact on daily life to engage the public. A few of our participants said to be careful not to promise too much. We had a brief discussion about that potential problem.David discussed the potential of space and low gravity environments to advance medical research, particularly in gene therapy for diseases like cystic fibrosis. He emphasized that while solutions to medical problems likely already exist, the challenge is accessing and implementing them, which requires funding and conducive environments. Rick raised concerns about the prioritization of NASA's budget for exploratory missions versus other technologies like stem cell research. David argued that a great nation can pursue multiple goals simultaneously. Marshall highlighted the role of the U.S. military and Space Force in space exploration and security, suggesting they could be a viable second source for dual-purpose initiatives. John Jossy shifted the discussion to focus on accomplishments and ongoing projects in space exploration.Some of our participants spoke to several scientific discoveries, including a landmark study on the universe's early galaxies from the James Webb Space Telescope and the discovery of super-hot spring strings that may account for dark matter. John Hunt shared updates about anomalous materials found at Skinwalker Ranch, which are being analyzed by a team of scientists, though no peer-reviewed paper has been published yet. The conversation ended with a reminder about upcoming Zoom shows, including one with Dr. Goswami on Tuesday evening.We closed by promoting an upcoming special show on Thursday at 12:30 PM West Coast time featuring Mike Gold discussing space policy and commerce. Marshall predicted that space commerce could become a significant source of income in the next 5-10 years, addressing the economic challenges of space projects. Ajay announced an art showing in Fairfax, Virginia on September 20th, featuring his work "The Abstraction of Mind from the Mind of a Rocket Scientist." The group also discussed the Starship launch for later today, with John Jossy noting that Elon Musk's update would likely be broadcast before the launch at 4 PM their time.Don't forget that you can see the Zoom video of this program and hear the audio archive at doctorspace.substack.com.Special thanks to our sponsors:Northrup Grumman, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Helix Space in Luxembourg, Celestis Memorial Spaceflights, Astrox Corporation, Dr. Haym Benaroya of Rutgers University, The Space Settlement Progress Blog by John Jossy, The Atlantis Project, and Artless EntertainmentOur Toll Free Line for Live Broadcasts: 1-866-687-7223For real time program participation, email Dr. Space at: drspace@thespaceshow.comThe Space Show is a non-profit 501C3 through its parent, One Giant Leap Foundation, Inc. To donate via Pay Pal, use:To donate with Zelle, use the email address: david@onegiantleapfoundation.org.If you prefer donating with a check, please make the check payable to One Giant Leap Foundation and mail to:One Giant Leap Foundation, 11035 Lavender Hill Drive Ste. 160-306 Las Vegas, NV 89135Upcoming Programs:Broadcast 4422: ZOOM PROGRAM: Dr. Namrata Goswami | Tuesday 26 Aug 2025 700PM PTGuests: Dr. Namrata GoswamiZOOM: National security space, China space and moreBroadcast 4423: Hotel Mars with Eric Berger | Wednesday 27 Aug 2025 930AM PTGuests: John Batchelor, Dr. David Livingston, Eric BergerStarship report, Artemis and more from Ars TechnicaBroadcast 4424: VIA ZOOM Mike Gold of Redwire returns | Thursday 28 Aug 2025 1230PM PTGuests: Mike GoldVia Zoom: Commercial space, policy, investing and lots more with Mike Gold of RedwireSunday, August 31, No show for long Labor Day Weekend Holiday | Sunday 31 Aug 2025 1200PM PTGuests: Dr. David LivingstonNo show for long Labor Day Weekend HolidayLive Streaming is at https://www.thespaceshow.com/content/listen-live with the following live streaming sites:Stream Guys https://player.streamguys.com/thespaceshow/sgplayer3/player.php#FastServ https://ic2646c302.fastserv.com/stream Get full access to The Space Show-One Giant Leap Foundation at doctorspace.substack.com/subscribe

Our Open Lines program began members of our Advisory Board in the Zoom meeting on casual conversation before transitioning into discussions about SpaceX's fundraising efforts and technical challenges with video conferencing and their upcoming Starship test 10 flight. The group then explored various space-related topics including more Starship test flights and SpaceX, lunar landing architectures, and NASA's Artemis program, while also discussing the importance of public communication about space exploration and its potential benefits. The conversation ended with discussions about scientific discoveries, upcoming shows featuring space policy experts, and an art showing by Dr. Kothari, along with additional updates about the upcoming Starship launch. Read the full summary at both www.thespaceshow.com and doctorspace.substack.com for this date, Sunday, August 24, 2025.

Listeners: Watch the video if you can as our guest uses excellent visuals that are more than helpful.Meeting assets for Space Show with Mari Anne Snow of Eascra, a Nanomedicine company are ready!The following assets for the meeting - Space Show with Mari Anne Snow of Eascra, a Nanomedicine company are now available.Our program began with guest Mari Anne Snow, CEO of EASCRA Biotech, focusing ion on the Eascra Biotech's innovative work in nanomedicine, including their space missions and development of Janus-based nanoparticles for medical applications. The discussion concluded with detailed exploration of the company's space-based manufacturing processes, potential profitability, and future plans for clinical trials and product development. Joining us in the Zoom meeting were Dr. A.J. Kothari, John Jossy, and Dr. Phil Swan. All of us spoke feely during the program.David and Mari discussed the potential of regenerative medicine and its impact on orthopedic surgeries, particularly knee and hip replacements. Mari emphasized that their target customers are not orthopedic surgeons but rather payers and patients, as insurance often covers traditional replacements more readily than alternative treatments. They explored the market opportunities in conditions like osteoarthritis and neuromuscular injuries, as well as kidney diseases, with the goal of offering cost-effective and innovative treatments. David expressed interest in these topics and mentioned his experience with space medicine, noting the lack of awareness among doctors about emerging space medical technologies.Mari, the Co-founder and CEO of Esker Biotech, discussed her company's innovative work in nanomedicine, focusing on precision therapy delivery solutions for various medical applications. She highlighted their progress, including completing five space missions in 24 months, as evidence of advancements in the commercial space economy. Mari explained that while Eascra is still in early stages and preclinical, they are gathering data to approach the FDA for regulatory approval of space-made products, with the goal of ensuring their space-produced items are equivalent to those made on Earth. The discussion also touched on the company's background, Mari's experience, and the technical aspects of their work, including the challenges and opportunities in the space and medical fields.Mari discussed her company's journey from an academic spin-off of the University of Connecticut to becoming a space medicine company. She explained how the company initially focused on producing nanoparticles on Earth but transitioned to space-based manufacturing after receiving funding and opportunities from NASA's In Space Manufacturing Program. Mari detailed their successful space missions, including working with astronauts like Sunita Williams and Johnny Kim, and described their plans to automate future experiments for increased efficiency.Mari explained her company's development of Janus-based nanoparticles for medical applications, including mRNA delivery for osteoarthritis treatment and a cell-free scaffold for cartilage regeneration. She described the nanoparticles' unique structure and delivery mechanism, which allows for better cell penetration and bioactivity compared to existing options. Mari also highlighted the advantages of producing these products in space, where microgravity leads to a more uniform and structurally sound scaffold, resulting in improved tissue regeneration and faster healing rates. Note that I did briefly stop her to explain “Janus-based nanoparticles,” a definition and explanation that was definitely helpful.Mari explained their work on developing medical products, both on Earth and in space, and discussed their progress in gaining FDA approval for their space-created medical product. She mentioned that they have early-stage agreement with the FDA for establishing equivalency between Earth and space samples. David asked about the mechanism for FDA approval of space-created medical products, to which Mari responded that they need to develop this pathway. Mari also addressed David's questions about funding and potential budget cuts, stating that they have stable funding from NASA and an Innovation Grant for a cancer application. She mentioned that they are building relationships with the Department of Defense and SpaceWorks to explore additional funding opportunities and potential applications of their product for troops and long-distance space travel.Our discussion continued focusing on the company's work with Janus-based nanoparticles and their development in microgravity, which has resulted in structural improvements of over 40% due to the lack of sedimentation and convection. Mari explained that her partner, a biomedical engineer at the University of Connecticut, has developed these technologies with funding from various sources including NIH, NSF, and NASA. The company is exploring partnerships with private space companies and has relationships with Axiom, Vast, and others to determine if parabolic flights or autonomous platforms could be sufficient for their needs. They are also considering lunar applications, though questions remain about the effectiveness of 1.6G on the moon compared to microgravity. Note that our Zoom participants were asking our guest many technical and engineering questions during this discussion though their questions were not specifically mentioned in this AI summary.Our Space Show team discussed the potential profitability of producing medical materials in space, with Mari explaining that financial models show the venture could be profitable even at small volumes due to premium pricing similar to existing drugs like CAR T cells (for those of you not familiar with this therapy, check it out here: Home - Explore CAR T). Phil offered to share data on launch costs to various orbits, while the group explored questions about future production environments and subsidies. John inquired about clinical indications for human trials, to which Mari explained they would act as a delivery component for licensing partners, with initial in-house products likely focusing on musculoskeletal conditions like osteoarthritis, where there are currently no effective treatments. AJ also offered to share some of his data with Mari.We discussed manufacturing processes and requirements for space-based medicine production. Mari explained they are currently in proof of concept phase with small batch production, aiming to develop an autonomous production process before scaling up. They confirmed having conversations with Varda and the Explorer company. The production process requires 48 hours in microgravity, making suborbital flights impractical, and the product maintains bioactivity for 6 months at ambient temperature, with plans to test longer-term stability.As we were moving toward the end of our program, Mari focused on three main questions about her company's space products (listen for them in the program). Mari explained that while they have a 10-year timeline to profitability if costs continue to decrease the timeline might shorten. She said they are already generating revenue from Earth-made products. She highlighted their advantage in delivering various types of nucleic acids and drugs due to their tubular structure, noting plans to test cancer applications with RNA and an FDA-approved drug in early 2026. The conversation also revealed that there are millions in potential healthcare solutions blocked by current delivery mechanisms, with Mari's company potentially addressing this issue through their technology, which has already attracted interest from gene editing companies.Mari discussed the development and potential of nanotube delivery systems for pharmaceuticals, highlighting their advantages over existing methods like lipid nanoparticles and viral vectors. This would be especially important for gene therapy and editing. She emphasized the simplicity, customizability, and stability of their technology, as well as its potential for tissue penetration and reduced production complexity. The conversation also touched on the commercialization challenges and opportunities in space pharmaceuticals, with Mari noting that space-based testing could accelerate drug development and reduce costs. The group discussed the potential for insurance coverage of advanced medical treatments and the need for validated commercial examples to demonstrate the efficacy of space-based medicine.Please post your comments/questions for this program on our blog at www.thespaceshow.com. You can also leave comments on our Substack page. I will do my est to follow your comments and make sure our guest is aware of them. Keep in mind it is always up the guest regarding replying to listener blog comments.Special thanks to our sponsors:Northrup Grumman, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Helix Space in Luxembourg, Celestis Memorial Spaceflights, Astrox Corporation, Dr. Haym Benaroya of Rutgers University, The Space Settlement Progress Blog by John Jossy, The Atlantis Project, and Artless EntertainmentOur Toll Free Line for Live Broadcasts: 1-866-687-7223For real time program participation, email Dr. Space at: drspace@thespaceshow.comThe Space Show is a non-profit 501C3 through its parent, One Giant Leap Foundation, Inc. To donate via Pay Pal, use:To donate with Zelle, use the email address: david@onegiantleapfoundation.org.If you prefer donating with a check, please make the check payable to One Giant Leap Foundation and mail to:One Giant Leap Foundation, 11035 Lavender Hill Drive Ste. 160-306 Las Vegas, NV 89135Upcoming Programs:Broadcast 4422: TBD | Monday 25 Aug 2025 1200PM PTGuests: Dr. David LivingstonGuest TBDLive Streaming is at https://www.thespaceshow.com/content/listen-live with the following live streaming sites:Stream Guys https://player.streamguys.com/thespaceshow/sgplayer3/player.php#FastServ https://ic2646c302.fastserv.com/stream Get full access to The Space Show-One Giant Leap Foundation at doctorspace.substack.com/subscribe

The Space Show presents Dr. A.J. Kothar via Zoom leading a discussion on how best to return & get infrastructure to the Moon. Tuesday, August 12, 2025Our discussion centered on Ajay Kothari's proposal to use multiple Falcon Heavy rockets for lunar missions as a cost-effective alternative to NASA's SLS and SpaceX's Starship. Kothari argued this method could be implemented within two years at an estimated cost of $400–600 million, and would avoid political pushback by serving as a complement rather than a replacement for existing programs. His plan involves docking multiple upper stages in low Earth orbit, then sending them to the Moon to land infrastructure payloads like nuclear power components. However, participants raised concerns over technical feasibility, payload delivery, landing mechanics, and cost estimates. By the way, do see Ajay's presentation which has been uploaded to our blog for this program.Phil presented Ajay's slides for the group to refer to during our program. Our continued discussion addressed leveraging current SLS/Orion infrastructure, despite general dissatisfaction with their limitations.Key technical concerns included the following by those in the Zoom meeting with Dr. Kothari:* Rick questioned the structural viability of connecting multiple upper stages, referencing challenges faced by Falcon Heavy.* Phil noted possible high costs and a lack of existing control systems.* Doug challenged Ajay's assumptions on Falcon Heavy's actual payload capabilities, prompting references to NASA's verified data.* Ajay explained his design accounts for partial reuse and optimized payload delivery, and he agreed to prepare a comparative metrics table for future presentations.Broader discussion shifted to Artemis program challenges, with skepticism from David and others about the realistic timeline and lack of cohesive leadership. Participants debated whether public-private partnerships, government direction, or commercial entrepreneurs like Musk and Bezos should lead space efforts. Ajay supported a hybrid approach, emphasizing infrastructure-building, not just symbolic landings.Additional topics includedThe strategic value of nuclear power (e.g., Kilopower project) for lunar manufacturing.* The importance of establishing infrastructure at the Moon's South Pole, including potential use of water ice as a fuel resource.* Phil's critique of NASA's over-reliance on commercialization.* Charles's belief that China will reach the Moon first, citing inconsistent U.S. program management.* The program concluded with debate over the realistic date for returning humans to the Moon, with predictions ranging from 2028–2029, and acknowledgments that China's progress may influence U.S. urgency.Special thanks to our sponsors:Northrup Grumman, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Helix Space in Luxembourg, Celestis Memorial Spaceflights, Astrox Corporation, Dr. Haym Benaroya of Rutgers University, The Space Settlement Progress Blog by John Jossy, The Atlantis Project, and Artless EntertainmentOur Toll Free Line for Live Broadcasts: 1-866-687-7223For real time program participation, email Dr. Space at: drspace@thespaceshow.comThe Space Show is a non-profit 501C3 through its parent, One Giant Leap Foundation, Inc. To donate via Pay Pal, use:To donate with Zelle, use the email address: david@onegiantleapfoundation.org.If you prefer donating with a check, please make the check payable to One Giant Leap Foundation and mail to:One Giant Leap Foundation, 11035 Lavender Hill Drive Ste. 160-306 Las Vegas, NV 89135Upcoming Programs:Broadcast 4418: Michael Listner, Atty | Tuesday 19 Aug 2025 700PM PTGuests: Michael ListnerMichael will talk about administration space policy changes, commercial space and more for one hour.Broadcast 4420: Hotel Mars TBD | Wednesday 20 Aug 2025 930AM PTGuests: John Batchelor, Dr. David LivingstonHotel Mars TBDBroadcast 4420: Hotel Mars TBD | Wednesday 20 Aug 2025 930AM PTGuests: John Batchelor, Dr. David LivingstonHotel Mars TBDBroadcast 4421: Mari Anne Snow (Zoom & livestream) | Friday 22 Aug 2025 930AM PTGuests: Mari Anne SnowMari, CEO of Eascra Biotech, talks about their in space pioneering precision therapeutic delivery solutions for challenging tissues, including articular cartilage, kidneys, & ECMBroadcast 4422: TBD | Monday 25 Aug 2025 1200PM PTGuests: Dr. David LivingstonGuest TBDLive Streaming is at https://www.thespaceshow.com/content/listen-live with the following live streaming sites:Stream Guys https://player.streamguys.com/thespaceshow/sgplayer3/player.php#FastServhttps://ic2646c302.fastserv.com/stream Get full access to The Space Show-One Giant Leap Foundation at doctorspace.substack.com/subscribe

Wispr Flow has transformed voice dictation from a frustrating novelty into a seamless productivity tool that users trust implicitly. With a recent $30 million Series A led by Menlo Ventures, the company has achieved remarkable product-market fit through 90% word-of-mouth growth and users who share the product organically without prompting. In this episode, I sat down with Tanay Kothari, CEO and Co-Founder of Wispr Flow, to learn about the company's pivot from hardware to software, their approach to manufacturing viral moments, and their strategy for competing against tech giants with distribution advantages. Topics Discussed: Wispr Flow's pivot from building voice assistant hardware to focusing on voice-to-text software The company's unique approach to achieving sub-half-second latency and exceptional accuracy Building viral growth through manufactured "aha moments" and exceptional user onboarding Competing against OpenAI and Apple through speed of execution and user experience focus The challenge of building for mainstream users beyond Silicon Valley's tech-savvy population Strategic decisions around cutting non-essential growth channels to maintain focus GTM Lessons For B2B Founders: Manufacture viral moments through obsessive user research: Tanay personally onboarded the first 500 users via Google Meet, watching their facial expressions, mouse movements, and emotional reactions in real-time. This intensive observation allowed him to identify and systematically reproduce moments of user delight. He explained, "Find the things that repeatedly create delight, make sure that never dies, and then find the other places where there's confusion and kind of take them out." B2B founders should invest heavily in understanding the micro-moments of user experience, as these compound into organic growth at scale. Leverage authentic product usage by your target buyers during fundraising: When Wispr Flow raised their Series A, every VC in Silicon Valley was already using the product daily. Tanay noted, "I didn't need to convince them about why the product was good. All I had to tell them about if you believe why Whisper is good today, here is where we can take the company." This eliminated the typical product demonstration phase and shifted conversations to vision and execution capability. B2B founders should prioritize getting their product into the hands of potential investors as users before ever pitching them as investors. Build anti-fragile technology that improves as the industry evolves: Rather than competing directly with AI model capabilities, Wispr Flow built infrastructure that gets better as underlying AI models improve. Tanay instructs his team: "If at some point that you feel afraid of a new model launching, you're doing something wrong." This philosophy led them to focus on latency, user experience, and integration rather than competing on raw AI performance. B2B founders in AI-adjacent spaces should identify where they can create value that compounds with industry improvements rather than being displaced by them. Cut aggressively to maintain focus during rapid growth: Despite conventional wisdom, Wispr Flow eliminated SEO efforts entirely because "no one is searching for voice dictation" and most people don't know the technology has reached usability thresholds. Tanay applies an extreme 80/20 rule: "You can cut the 80% of the things that are not giving you the results... You find a new 20% that's going to give you 80% more results and you can just keep doing that again and again." B2B founders should regularly audit their activities and ruthlessly eliminate even "best practices" that don't align with their specific growth dynamics. Design for mainstream adoption beyond early adopters: While most AI tools target Silicon Valley technologists, Tanay identified that 95% of the population represents the real market opportunity. He noted these users "end up being your most loyal users" because they have less churn and higher lifetime value than tech-savvy early adopters. B2B founders should resist the temptation to only build for sophisticated users and instead consider how their product works for less technically proficient buyers who may represent larger market segments.   //   Sponsors: Front Lines — We help B2B tech companies launch, manage, and grow podcasts that drive demand, awareness, and thought leadership. www.FrontLines.io The Global Talent Co. — We help tech startups find, vet, hire, pay, and retain amazing marketing talent that costs 50-70% less than the US & Europe.  www.GlobalTalent.co   //   Don't Miss: New Podcast Series — How I Hire Senior GTM leaders share the tactical hiring frameworks they use to build winning revenue teams. Hosted by Andy Mowat, who scaled 4 unicorns from $10M to $100M+ ARR and launched Whispered to help executives find their next role. Subscribe here: https://open.spotify.com/show/53yCHlPfLSMFimtv0riPyM 

The program focused on Ajay Kothari's proposal to use multiple Falcon Heavy rockets instead of Starship or SLS for lunar missions, which he argued would be more cost-effective and implementable within two years despite technical challenges raised by other participants. The group discussed broader concerns about the Artemis program's leadership, timeline feasibility, and competition with China's lunar ambitions, with some members expressing skepticism about returning to the moon while others emphasized the importance of establishing infrastructure like nuclear power systems. The conversation ended with participants debating when humans would actually return to the moon, with estimates ranging from 2028-2029, and David announcing upcoming shows including Hotel Mars and an appearance on Coast to Coast. Please read the full summary of this program at www.thespaceshow.com for this date, Tuesday, August 12, 2025. In addition, the video and audio archive will soon be published at doctorspace.substack.com.

Our program opened with my announcing changes to the show's format, including a new Tuesday Zoom-broadcast program, a toll-free call-in line, and details about upcoming guests such as Dr. Kothari returning to the Moon plans and Andrew Chanin of the UFO ETF being on Hotel Mars for Wednesday. He reminded listeners of the show's nonprofit status and encouraged support.With Dr. Tom Matula as our guest, our main topic centered around his new MBA programs focused on space commerce which he developed at Sul Ross University in Texas.Tom introduced the 100% online, accredited MBA in space commerce, featuring 12 core business courses and 4 space-specific courses, including a capstone project. The program is asynchronous, can be completed in one year, and benefits from proximity to Texas spaceports. We also reviewed a few of the other MBA in Space Commerce programs, noting their high tuition ($102K–$131K) and its face-to-face structure with online components. Tom's program is one of only two such specialized MBA programs in the U.S. and is part of the PASEC coalition. Tom compared his program's tuition cost to those of the other schools that were mentioned a few minutes earlier.Texas was highlighted for its strong support of the space industry, including a $350 million grant program and a planned $200 million Mars simulation facility. The discussion also covered credit transfer policies and the need for business-savvy professionals in space ventures, especially given the exciting and rapid development of the entrepreneurial commercial space sector.In terms of commercial space exploration, Tom discussed SpaceX's Starship and Falcon 9, noting reduced costs, increased reliability, and independence from government funding, driven by Starlink revenues. Starship is expected to revolutionize satellite deployment.Tom also covered:* Job opportunities in space commerce, particularly for finance and business professionals.* The launch of a companion MBA in aerospace and defense management.* The risks of poor business management in space startups.* The potential and challenges of Helium-3 mining on the moon.Tom emphasized future commercial opportunities with lunar and Martian activities, including data centers, AI, tourism, and homesteading. He also addressed technical challenges like spacecraft refueling and the use of lunar oxygen to improve efficiency. Finally, they explored the broader future of space travel, including the potential end of SLS/Orion, rise of private space stations, and NASA's reliance on Starship for future missions. The session concluded with a reiteration of the importance of combining business and technical expertise in building a sustainable space economy.Special thanks to our sponsors:Northrup Grumman, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Helix Space in Luxembourg, Celestis Memorial Spaceflights, Astrox Corporation, Dr. Haym Benaroya of Rutgers University, The Space Settlement Progress Blog by John Jossy, The Atlantis Project, and Artless EntertainmentOur Toll Free Line for Live Broadcasts: 1-866-687-7223For real time program participation, email Dr. Space at: drspace@thespaceshow.comThe Space Show is a non-profit 501C3 through its parent, One Giant Leap Foundation, Inc. To donate via Pay Pal, use:To donate with Zelle, use the email address: david@onegiantleapfoundation.org.If you prefer donating with a check, please make the check payable to One Giant Leap Foundation and mail to:One Giant Leap Foundation, 11035 Lavender Hill Drive Ste. 160-306 Las Vegas, NV 89135Upcoming Programs:Broadcast 4415 (Zoom & Live Stream) Dr. Ajay Kothari | Tuesday 12 Aug 2025 200PM PTGuests: Dr. Ajay KothariSpecial time 2 PM PDT, 5 PM EDT: Zoom & Live Stream: Dr. Kothari leads a discussion regarding alternatives & options for lunar returnBroadcast 4416 Hotel Mars: Andrew Chanin | Wednesday 13 Aug 2025 930AM PTGuests: John Batchelor, Dr. David Livingston, Andrew ChaninAndrew Chanin on commercial space investing, EFTs, IPOs and moreFriday, August 15: No Program today | Friday 15 Aug 2025 930AM PTGuests: Dr. David LivingstonNo program todayBroadcast 4417 Open Lines Discussion | Sunday 17 Aug 2025 1200PM PTGuests: Dr. David LivingstonOpen Lines Discussion. We want to hear from you so call 866-687-7223-Live Streaming is at https://www.thespaceshow.com/content/listen-live with the following live streaming sites:Stream Guys https://player.streamguys.com/thespaceshow/sgplayer3/player.php#FastServ https://ic2646c302.fastserv.com/streamBe sure to check out our Substack page, doctorspace.substack.com. Get full access to The Space Show-One Giant Leap Foundation at doctorspace.substack.com/subscribe

Hotel Mars with Rand Simberg, August 6, 2025John and I, with our guest Rand Simberg, focused this one segment Hotel Mars program on the role of commercial space with regards to our effort to return to the Moon. Rand Simberg explainrd that while NASA's Artemis program includes public-private partnerships with SpaceX and Blue Origin, Congress has been requiring the use of the Space Launch System (SLS) for the past 15 years to maintain jobs and workforce. Rand noted that the SLS program faces significant costs, with each Artemis launch averaging $30 billion. The Administration recommended ending the program after 2 more flights but Congress funded 3 additional flights plus associated hardware and infrastructure in the recently passed Big Beautiful Bill.We expressed concerns about the U.S. losing the moon race to China due to the current focus on the Space Launch System (SLS), which Rand believed is not sustainable. He suggested that the money spent on SLS could be redirected to more innovative and affordable space transportation solutions. David also noted that the NASA administrator position remains unfilled, which he sees as a potential obstacle to advancing space exploration goals.Before ending our program, Rand discussed the challenges and progress of human lunar lander development, comparing SpaceX and Blue Origin's capabilities. He noted that SpaceX is developing a larger lunar lander but faces uncertainty about refueling on orbit, while Blue Origin's timeline extends to 2030. Rand expressed confidence in SpaceX's ability to make rapid progress once they successfully launch their new version into orbit, addressing concerns about refueling.Special thanks to our sponsors:Northrup Grumman, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Helix Space in Luxembourg, Celestis Memorial Spaceflights, Astrox Corporation, Dr. Haym Benaroya of Rutgers University, The Space Settlement Progress Blog by John Jossy, The Atlantis Project, and Artless EntertainmentOur Toll Free Line for Live Broadcasts: 1-866-687-7223For real time program participation, email Dr. Space at: drspace@thespaceshow.comThe Space Show is a non-profit 501C3 through its parent, One Giant Leap Foundation, Inc. To donate via Pay Pal, use:To donate with Zelle, use the email address: david@onegiantleapfoundation.org.If you prefer donating with a check, please make the check payable to One Giant Leap Foundation and mail to:One Giant Leap Foundation, 11035 Lavender Hill Drive Ste. 160-306 Las Vegas, NV 89135Upcoming Programs:Broadcast 4415 (Zoom & Live Stream) Dr. Ajay Kothari | Tuesday 12 Aug 2025 200PM PTGuests: Dr. Ajay KothariSpecial time 2 PM PDT, 5 PM EDT: Zoom & Live Stream: Dr. Kothari leads a discussion regarding alternatives & options for lunar returnBroadcast 4416 Hotel Mars: Andrew Chanin | Wednesday 13 Aug 2025 930AM PTGuests: John Batchelor, Dr. David Livingston, Andrew ChaninAndrew Chanin on commercial space investing, EFTs, IPOs and moreFriday, August 15: No Program today | Friday 15 Aug 2025 930AM PTGuests: Dr. David LivingstonNo program todayBroadcast 4417 Open Lines Discussion | Sunday 17 Aug 2025 1200PM PTGuests: Dr. David LivingstonOpen Lines Discussion. We want to hear from you so call 866-687-7223-Live Streaming is at https://www.thespaceshow.com/content/listen-live with the following live streaming sites:Stream Guys https://player.streamguys.com/thespaceshow/sgplayer3/player.php#FastServhttps://ic2646c302.fastserv.com/stream Get full access to The Space Show-One Giant Leap Foundation at doctorspace.substack.com/subscribe

Tanay started coding at 10, built a product with millions of users by 11, and never stopped. In this episode, he shares how he created Wispr Flow—one of the fastest growing AI startups today. He's built the world's best voice to text app. I use it myself every single day. And he just raised a $30M Series A from Menlo Ventures This is a must-listen for any founder obsessed with building something users can't live without.Why You Should ListenHow Tanay built one of the world's first voice assistants at 11—and what it taught him about startups.Why most founders get product-market fit wrong The critical mistake that almost killed Wispr AIThe one thing Tanay wishes he'd known about building a startup team five years ago.Keywordsproduct market fit, AI startup, Wispr Flow, Tanay Kothari, founder stories, startup pivot, voice interface, building teams, hyper-growth startup, deep tech startup00:00:00 Intro00:07:22 Learning to Code in Secret00:13:27 From New Delhi to Stanford and Silicon Valley00:17:34 Feather X—Tanay's First Big Startup Exit00:24:33 The Original Moonshot Vision of Wispr AI00:31:19 Why Wispr AI Had to Pivot00:38:32 The Power of Incremental Change Over Radical Shifts00:43:00 Achieving Explosive Growth and True Product-Market Fit00:49:01 The Most Important Lesson—Building the Right TeamSend me a message to let me know what you think!

Why do modern relationships feel so fragile?Why do we fall for people who hurt us and keep going back?And what really causes emotional disconnect between partners?In this eye-opening conversation, psychologist, therapist, and TEDx speaker Mansi Kothari joins Gaurav Arora on the xMonks Drive Podcast to break down the real reasons why so many relationships fail and how we can change the patterns we repeat.

Meeting SummaryThe main portion of the meeting focused on space policy and technology, including debates about SpaceX's role in the U.S. space program, the feasibility of reusable rocket technology, and comparisons between U.S. and Chinese space capabilities. The discussion concluded with conversations about NASA's future, recent rocket nozzle issues, and Relativity Space's new leadership, with participants exploring a range of strategic and technical considerations for the future of the space industry.I introduced our Tuesday evening guest, Robert (Bob) Zimmerman, who noted the 15th anniversary of his website Behind the Black and encouraged listeners to support it through donations. Our discussion began by examining the ongoing tension between President Trump and Elon Musk regarding the BBB (Build Back Better) initiative. Bob expressed concern that the emotional and irrational nature of this debate could harm the American space program, which heavily relies on SpaceX. He emphasized the need for rational budget discussions and entertained the idea of a new political party. He also pointed out that Musk's Starship program might continue even without government funding, thanks to revenue from Starlink.The conversation then shifted to the feasibility of reusable rocket technology. Bob recounted how a physicist in 2013 had claimed orbital reuse was physically impossible—something Musk has since disproven. A back-and-forth discussion with several attendees explored the technical and economic implications of reusable systems.Phil and Bob discussed the difficulty of having rational conversations about budget cuts and program funding in today's polarized political environment. Bob contrasted SpaceX's fast-paced innovation under Elon Musk with Blue Origin's slower progress under Jeff Bezos. Marshall inquired about SpaceX's launch timeline, and Bob acknowledged Musk's aggressive goals but also noted potential delays, especially following the recent Starship test failure. Doug raised concerns about payload capacity for Mars missions, prompting Bob to describe Musk's iterative approach to achieving long-term goals.The Zoom discussion with Bob eventually focused on the capabilities and limitations of SpaceX's Starship, especially for lunar and Mars missions. Dr. Doug, Ajay, Phil, and Bob shared calculations suggesting Starship would require 10 to 40 in-orbit refueling operations to complete these missions. Bob emphasized that Starship's reusability and potential for mass production fundamentally change the cost and risk models compared to expendable rockets. Ajay suggested that Falcon Heavy might offer a faster and more cost-effective path to human-rated lunar missions. I eventually directed the discussion to a new topic.Bob criticized the U.S. space program's focus on beating China back to the Moon with a “flags and footsteps” approach reminiscent of Apollo. Instead, he advocated for a long-term strategy emphasizing infrastructure development and cargo missions, supporting Dr. Kothari's proposal of using Falcon Heavy as a cost-effective alternative to the SLS. Participants largely agreed that fostering a diverse space industry involving multiple private companies would be more sustainable than a single government-led mission. Dr. Kothari, however, stressed the urgency of staying competitive with China's growing lunar ambitions.The group compared the strengths and weaknesses of U.S. and Chinese space efforts. Bob praised the U.S. model of private enterprise, contrasting it with China's centralized, government-led approach. David expressed skepticism about NASA's Artemis program, while Phil suggested that Chinese advances might serve as a wake-up call to U.S. complacency.Later, Retired Lt. General Steve Kwast was mentioned as a potential NASA administrator. David noted his strong support for commercial space and his national security perspective. This led to a broader conversation about NASA's future. Rick expressed concern that budget cuts could weaken NASA, even suggesting a potential merger with the Space Force. Bob countered that NASA's budget hadn't been slashed as severely as feared and reiterated the importance of private-sector leadership, drawing historical parallels to pre-WWII science funding. The role of the National Space Council was also discussed, with Bob expressing skepticism based on past experience. Attendees agreed on the need for a balanced public-private approach to space exploration.Toward the end of the meeting, Bob brought up recent rocket nozzle issues, highlighting two concerning incidents: a Vulcan rocket nozzle detaching during launch, and a static fire test failure of an SLS solid rocket booster. He questioned whether these failures pointed to systemic problems at Northrop Grumman. The conversation also touched on ULA's potential sale, which Bob noted had drawn no interest after Vulcan's second launch. A question about sabotage was raised, but Bob dismissed it as speculative, noting no credible evidence and pointing instead to the importance of internal quality control.Bob elaborated that sabotage concerns were rare in the U.S. space sector, crediting companies like SpaceX for maintaining strict performance standards by quickly addressing internal issues. He praised innovative company cultures that encourage creativity and problem-solving. Phil and David voiced concerns about waning public interest in space. Bob attributed this to educational shortcomings and the lack of competitive media. He concluded that both freedom and competition are essential for revitalizing education, media, and public engagement with space exploration.As the program wrapped up, Bob brought attention to Relativity Space's new CEO, Eric Schmidt, and his ambitious plans for the company. There was speculation about Schmidt potentially launching data centers in space, drawing parallels to Musk's Starlink initiative. Bob noted that Relativity has shifted its focus from solely 3D-printing rockets to pursuing the most efficient paths to space access.We concluded by thanking Bob and all participants for the engaging discussion and wished everyone a great July 4th holiday weekend.Special thanks to our sponsors:Northrup Grumman, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Helix Space in Luxembourg, Celestis Memorial Spaceflights, Astrox Corporation, Dr. Haym Benaroya of Rutgers University, The Space Settlement Progress Blog by John Jossy, The Atlantis Project, and Artless EntertainmentOur Toll Free Line for Live Broadcasts: 1-866-687-7223For real time program participation, email Dr. Space at: drspace@thespaceshow.comThe Space Show is a non-profit 501C3 through its parent, One Giant Leap Foundation, Inc. To donate via Pay Pal, use:To donate with Zelle, use the email address: david@onegiantleapfoundation.org.If you prefer donating with a check, please make the check payable to One Giant Leap Foundation and mail to:One Giant Leap Foundation, 11035 Lavender Hill Drive Ste. 160-306 Las Vegas, NV 89135Upcoming Programs:Broadcast 4395: ZOOM: Bob Zimmerman | Tuesday 01 Jul 2025 700PM PTGuests: Robert ZimmermanzOOM: Bob returns for news and updates we all want to hear.Broadcast 4396 Hotel Mars with Dr. Simone Marchi | Wednesday 02 Jul 2025 930AM PTGuests: John Batchelor, Dr. David Livingston, Dr. Simone MarchiThe shaping of terrestrial planets by late accretions will be his topic.Friday, July 4, 2025: No program for the July 4th holiday. | Friday 04 Jul 2025 930AM PTGuests: Dr. David LivingstonNo program for the July 4, 2025 holidaySunday, July 6, 2025: No program as part of the July 4th holiday weekend. | Sunday 06 Jul 2025 1200PM PTGuests: Dr. David LivingstonNo program today as part of the July 4th holiday weekend.Live Streaming is at https://www.thespaceshow.com/content/listen-live with the following live streaming sites:Stream Guys https://player.streamguys.com/thespaceshow/sgplayer3/player.php#FastServhttps://ic2646c302.fastserv.com/stream Get full access to The Space Show-One Giant Leap Foundation at doctorspace.substack.com/subscribe

We began our discussion with Dr. Bae with a focus on nuclear fusion power and space propulsion. The conversation covered Dr. Bae's research career, the challenges in developing fusion technology, and potential applications for space. We aimed to conclude with a consensus that both fusion and thorium-based fission could play key roles in future space propulsion, while fission would likely remain the more viable option for terrestrial energy needs. At the start of the program, I reminded listeners of the importance of financially supporting The Space Show, as it is 100% listener-funded. Please see the large Pay Pal button in the middle of the right side of our home page, www.thespaceshow.com.Young opened by discussing his 40-year career in nuclear fusion power and advanced space propulsion, highlighting breakthroughs such as photonic propulsion and his work on antimatter propulsion with Bob Forward. He structured his remarks into three areas: his pursuit of breakthrough science to advance nuclear fusion, his experience with a fusion startup, and his assessment of the current state of fusion power. His research journey began in the 1980s at UC Berkeley, where his PhD dissertation focused on plasma fusion power generation.Young described his research on antimatter and cluster fusion across several institutions, including SRI, Brookhaven National Laboratory, and the Air Force Rocket Propulsion Laboratory. He shared candid insights into the challenges of controversial fusion research and the difficulty of securing funding. Eventually, he joined a now-defunct fusion startup, where he continued exploring cluster and neutronic fusion reactions. He chose not to disclose the company's name.During his time at the startup in the 1990s, Young realized the company's funding was based on misleading claims about fusion development timelines. Although he honestly stated that practical fusion was still decades away, company leadership remained uninformed about the scientific challenges. Disillusioned, he left the company. He emphasized that while fusion is often marketed as a clean energy source, it produces significant radioactive waste and faces major technical hurdles—particularly in achieving high fuel gains and ignition temperatures.The conversation then turned to the current state and challenges of fusion energy. Young expressed skepticism about Helion Energy's projected 2028 commercial power launch, emphasizing the need for true scientific breakthroughs. He highlighted unresolved issues like plasma instability and the difficulty of achieving net energy output. He compared today's fusion landscape to the early days of transistor development, underscoring the importance of basic research and sustained funding.Fusion and fission's potential for space applications was another key topic. Young advocated for focusing fusion research on space propulsion, where its advantages in fuel efficiency and availability could be maximized. He felt terrestrial energy solutions were already mature by comparison. In response to Marshall's question about optimal magnetic field strength for fusion control, Young noted that while superconducting magnets help, they don't change the fundamental limits of fusion reactions.The discussion also covered thorium-based molten salt reactors, which Dr. Kothari described as a safer, more efficient alternative to traditional nuclear reactors. The group discussed the promise of using deuterium and helium-3 as fusion fuels in space, emphasizing the need for an in-space demonstration to validate the technology.Another highlight of the program was photon propulsion. Dr. Bae explained how regenerators can trap and amplify photon energy, potentially achieving higher thrust efficiencies than chemical thrusters. He also voiced concerns about the fusion field's slow progress despite heavy investment, suggesting a government-led panel be established to assess the real state of fusion R&D. John Jossy added that while venture capital is pouring into fusion, repeated promises of “fusion in 20 years” continue to raise doubts.During the Zoom meeting, our Zoom group—including Dr. Bae—discussed the future of large-scale energy. We expressed skepticism about the long-term viability of solar and wind power for global energy needs, instead pointing to fusion and thorium-based fission as more promising. They agreed that fusion propulsion would be essential for space travel, though Kothari highlighted challenges related to weight and infrastructure. The consensus was that fission remains the most practical near-term solution for Earth-based power, while fusion and thorium fission hold greater promise for future space applications.Our program explored the intersection of fusion energy and space civilization. Dr. Bae proposed writing an article on the topic. John Hunt requested a chart comparing break-even conditions for different fusion types, which Dr. Bae agreed to provide. This chart is now available on our blog at www.thespaceshow.com.We also briefly discussed potential NASA budget cuts and announced a special Space Show Advisory Board Zoom program scheduled for Sunday, July 27. Details will follow.Before concluding, I asked Dr. Bae for his thoughts on space-based solar power—don't miss what he had to say. Finally, we wrapped up with a photo tour of Marshall's home-built airplane, which he shared with everyone on the call, including Dr. Bae.This program is archived as an audio-only recording on both The Space Show website and our Substack page at doctorspace.substack.com.Special thanks to our sponsors:Northrup Grumman, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Helix Space in Luxembourg, Celestis Memorial Spaceflights, Astrox Corporation, Dr. Haym Benaroya of Rutgers University, The Space Settlement Progress Blog by John Jossy, The Atlantis Project, and Artless EntertainmentOur Toll Free Line for Live Broadcasts: 1-866-687-7223For real time program participation, email Dr. Space at: drspace@thespaceshow.comThe Space Show is a non-profit 501C3 through its parent, One Giant Leap Foundation, Inc. To donate via Pay Pal, use:To donate with Zelle, use the email address: david@onegiantleapfoundation.org.If you prefer donating with a check, please make the check payable to One Giant Leap Foundation and mail to:One Giant Leap Foundation, 11035 Lavender Hill Drive Ste. 160-306 Las Vegas, NV 89135Upcoming Programs:Broadcast 4395: ZOOM: Bob Zimmerman | Tuesday 01 Jul 2025 700PM PTGuests: Robert ZimmermanZOOM: Bob returns for news and updates we all want to hear.Broadcast 4396 Hotel Mars with Dr. Simone Marchi | Wednesday 02 Jul 2025 930AM PTGuests: John Batchelor, Dr. David Livingston, Dr. Simone MarchiThe shaping of terrestrial planets by late accretions will be his topic.Friday, July 4, 2025: No program for the July 4th holiday. | Friday 04 Jul 2025 930AM PTGuests: Dr. David LivingstonNo program for the July 4, 2025 holidaySunday, July 6, 2025: No program as part of the July 4th holiday weekend. | Sunday 06 Jul 2025 1200PM PTGuests: Dr. David LivingstonNo program today as part of the July 4th holiday weekend.Live Streaming is at https://www.thespaceshow.com/content/listen-live with the following live streaming sites:Stream Guys https://player.streamguys.com/thespaceshow/sgplayer3/player.php#FastServ https://ic2646c302.fastserv.com/stream Get full access to The Space Show-One Giant Leap Foundation at doctorspace.substack.com/subscribe

Casey Dreyer, Director of Space Policy at the Planetary Society, joined us in our Space Show Zoom room to discuss the proposed 2026 NASA budget. He criticized the budget as unprecedented, “unstrategic,” and damaging—highlighting a historic 25% cut that could cancel numerous missions and projects. Casey stressed that the budget breaks the Artemis consensus, cuts scientific research, and threatens NASA's workforce. He dismissed the possibility of significant internal savings, arguing that most mission costs are tied to personnel and would require major structural reform. Casey suggested the budget proposal reflected a broader shift in U.S. priorities away from science and questioned the lack of clear space policy leadership from the White House. He attributed the budget's anti-science stance more to Rust Vought of OMB than Elon Musk and noted that NASA was excluded from key budget conversations due to the absence of a confirmed administrator.The group discussed how budget cuts affect commercial space activity and NASA's ability to support it. Casey emphasized the importance of long-term commitments to programs like Artemis to sustain a commercial space economy. While some companies remain successful, many are shifting focus toward defense contracts due to market and funding uncertainties. Zoom participant Phil proposed reframing NASA's mission in terms of national competition with China to align with current political priorities. Casey agreed that emphasizing competition with China might be effective but warned against undermining NASA's nonpartisan image. He noted that while public support exists for NASA's science missions—such as climate observation and planetary defense—human spaceflight to the Moon or Mars is less popular.Casey also addressed potential solutions, including advocating for a supplemental budget or stronger congressional resistance. Zoom listener John H suggested a continuing resolution (CR) may be the most likely outcome, given Senate voting requirements and ongoing reconciliation bill discussions. Casey explained that while a CR might appear manageable, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) could impose harmful restrictions through aggressive executive interpretation.In discussing congressional prospects, Casey was skeptical about swift action due to a narrow Republican majority and competing legislative priorities. He warned that inaction could have severe consequences and reiterated the importance of public and congressional engagement.The conversation turned to the role of the National Space Council and the implications of JD Vance's leadership. Casey expressed concerns about the lack of strategic guidance and the administration's failure to advocate its own space policy vision. He emphasized the need for policy alternatives to reduce reliance on a single contractor—namely SpaceX—and criticized the current vulnerability of programs like the Space Launch System (SLS).When asked about China's potential to reach the Moon first, Casey speculated that it could lead to a symbolic loss for the U.S., though the political response remains uncertain. He stressed that the administration's lack of public advocacy for NASA's goals is damaging and that human spaceflight's popularity depends heavily on its visibility and perceived success.In closing, Casey described the Planetary Society's advocacy efforts, highlighting their independent and aggressive campaign against the proposed cuts. He reaffirmed the importance of preserving NASA's nonpartisan reputation while pushing for restored funding. He also mentioned an upcoming podcast episode on the NASA budget featuring guests from the Commercial Spaceflight Federation (CSF) and the American Geophysical Union (AGU). The group agreed to remain engaged and offer support to help reverse the budget cuts.Listeners and viewers, much more was discussed during the 1 hour 16 minutes with Casey so be sure to either watch all of the video or listen to all of the audio. We were joined in the Zoom room by Space Show Advisory Board members Bill Gowan, John Jossy, John Hunt, A.J. Kothari, and Dr. Phil Swan. Many more questions were asked of Casey including my end of the program for Casey and/or the Planetary Society to create an alternate budget to use in working to move away from the proposed skinny budget. Such an alternate budget by those who know and are familiar with space, science and NASA would also be a terrific and relevant handout to members of congress, staffers and even the president and his office. I hope Casey and his associates follow through on this suggestion. Please post your comments on either TSS blog for this program or our Substack page, doctorspace.substack.com.Special thanks to our sponsors:Northrup Grumman, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Helix Space in Luxembourg, Celestis Memorial Spaceflights, Astrox Corporation, Dr. Haym Benaroya of Rutgers University, The Space Settlement Progress Blog by John Jossy, The Atlantis Project, and Artless EntertainmentOur Toll Free Line for Live Broadcasts: 1-866-687-7223For real time program participation, email Dr. Space at: drspace@thespaceshow.comThe Space Show is a non-profit 501C3 through its parent, One Giant Leap Foundation, Inc. To donate via Pay Pal, use:To donate with Zelle, use the email address: david@onegiantleapfoundation.org.If you prefer donating with a check, please make the check payable to One Giant Leap Foundation and mail to:One Giant Leap Foundation, 11035 Lavender Hill Drive Ste. 160-306 Las Vegas, NV 89135Upcoming Programs:Broadcast 4388: Sunday, June 22: 12 PM PDT; Dr. Karen Lloyd re her book “Intra-terrestrials: Discovering the Strangest Life on Earth”Broadcast 4389: Dr. Karen Lloyd | Sunday 22 Jun 2025 1200PM PTGuests: Dr. Karen LloydDr. Lloyd talks about her new book, "intra-Terrestrials: Discovering the strangest life on Earth."Broadcast 4390: Dr. Saralyn Mark | Tuesday 24 Jun 2025 700PM PTGuests: Dr. Saralyn MarkDr. Mark on advancing human spaceflight and health here on Earth and in space.Broadcast 4391: Hotel Mars with Doug Messier | Wednesday 25 Jun 2025 930AM PTGuests: John Batchelor, Dr. David Livingston, Douglas MessierDoug plans on addressing all things SpaceX, Starship and Elon Musk.Broadcast 4392: BY ZOOM: Dr. Ersilia Vaudo from France | Thursday 26 Jun 2025 930AM PTGuests: Dr. Ersilia VaudoDr. Vaudo will highlight her new book, The Story of Astrophysics in Five Revolutions.Broadcast 4393: Casey Dreier of The Planetary Society | Friday 27 Jun 2025 930AM PTGuests: Casey DreierCasey address the skinny budget for NASA science and space project cutbacksBroadcast 4394: Dr. Young Bay | Sunday 29 Jun 2025 1200PM PTGuests: Dr. Young K. BaeDr. Bay addresses the development of fusion energyLive Streaming is at https://www.thespaceshow.com/content/listen-live with the following live streaming sites:Stream Guys https://player.streamguys.com/thespaceshow/sgplayer3/player.php#FastServ https://ic2646c302.fastserv.com/stream Get full access to The Space Show-One Giant Leap Foundation at doctorspace.substack.com/subscribe

The Space Show welcomed award-winning author and former Caltech radio astronomer Marcus Chown to discuss his latest book, A Crack in Everything: How Black Holes Came in from the Cold and Took Cosmic Center Stage. Chown shared his journey from early inspiration—thanks to a childhood astronomy book and the moon landing—to his current career as a science writer/journalist. He also noted the success of his previous book, The Ascent of Gravity, named the Sunday Times Science Book of the Year.Chown traced the transformation of black holes from theoretical curiosities to essential cosmic players. He described the 1971 discovery of the first black hole in the Cygnus X-1 system and explained how supermassive black holes were surprisingly identified before stellar-mass ones, thanks to observations by the Hubble Space Telescope. He clarified that while black holes themselves emit no light, matter falling into them creates bright emissions.Chown highlighted the overlooked contributions of women in astronomy, especially Louise Webster, co-discoverer of black holes. He emphasized black holes' vital role in galaxy formation and the intriguing theory that their presence may influence the emergence of life.Chown detailed how light elements formed in the Big Bang, while heavier ones like uranium and thorium emerged in supernovae. The 2017 detection of gravitational waves from neutron star mergers revealed the origin of precious metals like gold and platinum, solving a long-standing mystery. He also explained that gamma-ray bursts, once detected by military satellites, are linked to these cataclysmic events. This was in response to a question by Dr. Kothari. In addition, his discussing regarding uranium, thorium, and plutonium helped to explain that only specific isotopes are fissile due to nuclear forces. These elements contribute to Earth's heat and helium production. He praised physicist Lise Meitner, co-discoverer of nuclear fission and developer of the liquid drop model, who was nominated 49 times for the Nobel Prize but never awarded.Chown addressed how James Webb Space Telescope findings—such as unexpectedly bright early galaxies and potential newborn supermassive black holes—challenge current galaxy formation theories. He explored speculative ideas, including advanced civilizations possibly harnessing black hole energy, and the elusive role of dark matter in cosmic structure.I had Marcus if he had any concerns about what may be a U.S. pull back from science and engineering for budgetary reasons. I wanted to know if thought there were other players that might step in and fill the void left by the U.S. were the pull back to happen. Marcus expressed concern over a potential U.S. retreat from scientific leadership, emphasizing the difficulty other nations would face in filling that gap. He reflected on Roy Kerr's 1963 rotating black hole solution, overshadowed at the time by quasar discoveries. Looking ahead, he encouraged continued exploration and proposed future discussions on dark energy.I closed by reminding listeners that The Space Show is a listener-supported 501(c)(3) nonprofit and encouraged donations to help sustain the program.Special thanks to our sponsors:Northrup Grumman, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Helix Space in Luxembourg, Celestis Memorial Spaceflights, Astrox Corporation, Dr. Haym Benaroya of Rutgers University, The Space Settlement Progress Blog by John Jossy, The Atlantis Project, and Artless EntertainmentOur Toll Free Line for Live Broadcasts: 1-866-687-7223For real time program participation, email Dr. Space at: drspace@thespaceshow.comThe Space Show is a non-profit 501C3 through its parent, One Giant Leap Foundation, Inc. To donate via Pay Pal, use:To donate with Zelle, use the email address: david@onegiantleapfoundation.org.If you prefer donating with a check, please make the check payable to One Giant Leap Foundation and mail to:One Giant Leap Foundation, 11035 Lavender Hill Drive Ste. 160-306 Las Vegas, NV 89135Upcoming ShowsBroadcast 4384: Dave Barnhart, CEO of Arkysis | Tuesday 10 Jun 2025 700PM PTBroadcast 4385 Hotel Mars with Eric Berger | Wednesday 11 Jun 2025 930AM PTBroadcast 4386: ZOOM: Bill Gowan | Friday 13 Jun 2025 930AM PTSunday, June 15: No program in honor of Father's Day | Sunday 15 Jun 2025 1200PM PTLive Streaming is at https://www.thespaceshow.com/content/listen-live with the following live streaming sites: Get full access to The Space Show-One Giant Leap Foundation at doctorspace.substack.com/subscribe

What if the future of fine jewelry isn't just about sparkle, but about access, innovation, and redefining who luxury is really for? Tune in for an inspiring discussion with Monil Kothari on the Haus of Brilliance Jewelry Collection.  Moments with Marianne airs in the Southern California area on KMET 1490AM & 98.1 FM, an ABC Talk News Radio Affiliate!  https://www.kmet1490am.comMonil Kothari is the founder and CEO of Haus of Brilliance, a New York City-based fine jewelry brand rooted in the belief that luxury should be accessible to all. With over 13 years of experience, including early training in India and more than a decade leading operations in New York, Monil brings a global perspective and deep industry insight to his work. Since launching the brand, he has grown Haus of Brilliance from a family-rooted business into a major player in modern jewelry retail, with products available through Amazon, QVC, Kohl's, Belk, 1stDibs, and the brand's own e-commerce site. Known for its focus on quality, trend-driven design, and fast delivery, the company continues to expand under Monil's leadership, delivering fine jewelry at value-driven prices to meet the needs of today's consumer. https://www.hausofbrilliance.comFor a Special 20% discount on your order at Haus of Brilliance use code: MOMENTS20For more show information visit:www.MariannePestana.com

What's up everyone, today we have the pleasure of sitting down with Ankur Kothari, Adtech and Martech Consultant who's worked with big tech names and finance/consulting firms like Salesforce, JPMorgan and McKinsey.The views and opinions expressed by Ankur in this episode are his own and do not necessarily reflect the official position of his employer.Summary: Ankur explains how most AI personalization flops cause teams ignore the basics. He helped a brand recover millions just by making the customer journey actually make sense, not by faking it with names in emails. It's all about fixing broken flows first, using real behavior, and keeping things human even when it's automated. Ankur is super sharp, he shares a practical maturity framework for AI personalization so you can assess where you currently fit and how you get to the next stage. AI Personalization That Actually Increases Retention - Practical ExampleMost AI personalization in marketing is either smoke, mirrors, or spam. People plug in a tool, slap a customer's first name on a subject line, then act surprised when the retention numbers keep tanking. The tech isn't broken. The execution is lazy. That's the part people don't want to admit.Ankur worked with a mid-sized e-commerce brand in the home goods space that was bleeding revenue; $2.3 million a year lost to customers who made one purchase and never returned. Their churn rate sat at 68 percent. Think about that. For every 10 new customers, almost 7 never came back. And they weren't leaving because the product was bad or overpriced. They were leaving because the whole experience felt like a one-size-fits-all broadcast. No signal, no care, no relevance.So he rewired their personalization from the ground up. No gimmicks. No guesswork. Just structured, behavior-based segmentation using first-party data. They looked at:Website interactionsPurchase historyEmail engagementCustomer service logsThen they fed that data into machine learning models to predict what each customer might actually want to do next. From there, they built 27 personalized customer journeys. Not slides in a strategy deck. Actual, functioning sequences that shaped content delivery across the website, emails, and mobile app.> “Effective AI personalization is only partly about the tech but more about creating genuinely helpful customer experiences that deliver value rather than just pushing products.”The results were wild. Customer retention rose 42 percent. Lifetime value jumped from $127 to $203. Repeat purchase rate grew by 38 percent. Revenue climbed by $3.7 million. ROI hit 7 to 1. One customer who previously spent $45 on a single sustainable item went on to spend more than $600 in the following year after getting dropped into a relevant, well-timed, and non-annoying flow.None of this happened because someone clicked "optimize" in a tool. It happened because someone actually gave a damn about what the customer experience felt like on the other side of the screen. The lesson isn't that AI personalization works. The lesson is that it only works if you use it to solve real customer problems.Key takeaway: AI personalization moves the needle when you stop using it as a buzzword and start using it to deliver context-aware, behavior-driven customer experiences. Focus on first-party data that shows how customers interact. Then build distinct journeys that respond to actual behavior, not imagined personas. That way you can increase retention, grow customer lifetime value, and stop lighting your acquisition budget on fire.Why AI Personalization Fails Without Fixing Basic Automation FirstSigning up for YouTube ads should have been a clean experience. A quick onboarding, maybe a personalized email congratulating you for launching your first campaign, a relevant tip about optimizing CPV. Instead, the email that landed was generic and mismatched—“Here's how to get started”—despite the fact the account had already launched its first ad. This kind of sloppiness doesn't just kill momentum. It exposes a bigger problem: teams chasing personalization before fixing basic logic.Ankur saw this exact issue on a much more expensive stage. A retail bank had sunk $2.3 million into an AI-driven loan recommendation engine. Sophisticated architecture, tons of fanfare. Meanwhile, their onboarding emails were showing up late and recommending products users already had. That oversight translated to $3.7 million in missed annual cross-sell revenue. Not because the AI was bad, but because the foundational workflows were broken.The failure came from three predictable sources:Teams operated in silos. Innovation was off in its own corner, disconnected from marketing ops and customer experience.The tech stack was split in two. Legacy systems handled core functions, but were too brittle to change. AI was layered on top, using modern platforms that didn't integrate cleanly.Leaders focused on innovation metrics, while no one owned the state of basic automation or email logic.To fix it, Ankur froze the AI rollout for 120 days and focused on repair work. The team rebuilt the essential customer journeys, cleaned up logic gaps, and restructured automation to actually respond to user behavior. This work lifted product adoption by 28 percent and generated an additional $4.2 million in revenue. Once the base was strong, they reintroduced the AI engine. Its impact increased by 41 percent, not because the algorithm improved, but because the environment finally supported it.> “The institutions that win with AI are the ones that execute flawlessly across all technology levels, from simple automation to cutting-edge applications.”That lesson applies everywhere, including in companies far smaller than Google or JPMorgan. When you skip foundational work, every AI project becomes a band-aid over a broken funnel. It might look exciting, but it can't hold.Key takeaway: Stop using AI to compensate for broken customer journeys. Fix your onboarding logic, clean up your automation triggers, and connect your systems across teams. Once the fundamentals are working, you can layer AI on top of a system that supports it. That way you can generate measurable returns, instead of just spinning up another dashboard that looks good in a QBR.Step by Step Approach to AI Personalization With a Maturity Framework - The First Steps You Can Take on The Path To AI PersonalizationMost AI personalization projects start with a 50-slide vision deck, three vendors, and zero working use cases. Then teams wonder why things stall. What actually works is starting small and surgical. One product. One journey. Clear data. Clear upside.Ankur advised a regional bank that had plenty of customer data but zero AI in play. No need for new tooling or a six-month roadmap. They focused on one friction-heavy opportunity with direct payoff: mortgage pre-approvals. Forget trying to personalize every touchpoint. They picked the one that mattered and did it well.They built a clustering algorithm using transaction patterns, savings trends, and credit utilization to detect home-buying intent. From there, they pushed pre-approvals with tailored rates and terms. The bank already had the raw data in its core systems. No scraping, no extra collection, no “data enrichment” vendor needed.That decision paid off fast:The data already existed, so implementation moved quicklyThe scope was limited to a single high-stakes journeyThe impact landed hard: mortgage application rates jumped 31 percent and approval-to-close conversions climbed 24 percent within 60 days> “Start with a high-value product journey where pers...

Welcome to our Open Lines discussion covering many topics Note my message for a Drupal 7 expert to assist in maintaining our website. If you are that person or know someone please refer them to me. We talked about the suggested NASA science cuts, the Roman telescope and the size of its mirror. Another topic was the Russian "nuclear" possible satellite that is reported tumbling and out of control. There was much speculation about the purpose of this satellite per the Reuters article. Michael Listner, Atty, called in to help clarify the satellite situation for us. Fremont John called about the space budget plus he uploaded several great documents to the blog for this program. John had additional topics for us that he mentioned. Artemis was a topic as was the FH plan suggested and promoted by Dr. Kothari on many programs and with other formats. We talked about China and their lunar plans plus the possibility we just move on to Mars leaving the Moon for China. Ft. Worth John brought us some of the SLS and Orion issues plus some of the FH constraints were it selected as the return to the Moon architecture. Please read the full summary of the program when it appears at www.thespaceshow.com for this date, Sunday, April 27, 2025.

Ajay was back with us to discuss his approach to returning to the Moon using Falcon Heavy rather than the infrastructure planned for in Artemis. Our guest went through the economics supporting his plan but also the faster timeline which he said would assure us getting back on the Moon before China. In the second half of our program, our guest promoted the use of a Molten Salt Thorium reactor for our power, also in space. He pointed the progress being made on bring thorium power to market in both China and Russia. He talked extensively about the reserves of thorium for the US, China, etc. and the advantages in using Thorium Please read the full summary of the show at www.thespaceshow.com for this program on Wednesday, April 23, 2025.

#HOTEL MARS: MOON HABITATS BY 2028. AJAY KOTHARI, DAVID LIVINGSTON. 2958

#HOTEL MARS: CHINA TESTS A BETA THORIUM REACTOR. AJAY KOTHARI, DAVID LIVINGSTON. 1958

Welcome to Open Lines for March 2025. We covered lots of topics but started out with some Space Show scheduling changes plus information regarding the upcoming probable Space Show Zoom on April 6. We covered many topics but spent most of the time on alternative plans to the Moon other than the Program of Record for Artemis using the lunar landers by SpaceX or Blue, SLS & the Gateway. We talked about the law and how much authority NASA or the President may have in modifying how we do the mission plus there was good discussion regarding the alternative plan proposed by Dr. Kothari. AJAY has discussed in ideas on TSS plus for the last time he was on, there is a PDF document that explains the details of his approach using FH and more. If you have not read that doc, please do so. Read the full summary of this program a www.thespaceshow.com when available and for this date, March 16, 2025.

Dr. Kothari was with us to discuss the recent congressional hearing on Artemis and return to the Moon programs as he attended the hearing. You can find the hearing on YouTube if you want to watch. Ajay reported on the two guests, the need for a sustainable program, then he talked about his own ideas for a sustainable program to the Moon using Falcon Heavy. Our guest has put his information on our blog for this show so do check it out, including his PDF on returning humans to the Moon. We got several questions and calls, some which inquired about the process to get ideas before the policy makers. Please read the full summary of this program when available at www.thespaceshow.com for this date, Tuesday, March 11, 2025.

Tushar was the CEO of Attivo Networks for a decade before selling to SentinelOne for $600 million dollars in 2022. Attivo Networks built deception technology which would trick attackers into attacking fake infrastructure. A common form of deception is a honeypot, which is an intentionally vulnerable server so defenders can gather information about attackers such as their IP address or attack techniques. Attivo provided comprehensive deception solutions and served five of the Fortune 10. In the episode we talk about Tushar's learnings from a decade at Cisco, the unique origin story of Attivo and its founders, and the sale process to SentinelOne.

Dr. Kothari was with us to talk about his soon to be published paper on going to the Moon without SLS and the special halo orbit selected due to SLS. Ajay went through his plan and its architecture and worked at being very persuasive for his suggested program. He had many email listeners asking him challenging questions and the final call from Ft. Worth John was disagreement call. Don't miss what they had to say. Ajay's paper will be posted to our blog upon publication, probably in The Space Review. Read the written the summary at www.thespaceshow.com for this date, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025.

In this episode, Tom Varghese, MD, MS, MBA, FACS, is joined by Anai N Kothari MD, FACS, MS, FSSO, from the Medical College of Wisconsin. They discuss Dr Kothari's recent article, “Association of Daily Step Count and Postoperative Complication among All of Us Research Participants,” in which the authors used preoperative wearable device data from 475 patients to investigate the link between daily step counts and postoperative complications. Patients with fewer than 7,500 daily steps had a higher risk of complications, supporting the use of wearables for surgical risk assessment and preoperative fitness measurement. Disclosure Information: Drs Varghese and Kothari have nothing to disclose. To earn 0.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ for this episode of the JACS Operative Word Podcast, click here to register for the course and complete the evaluation. Listeners can earn CME credit for this podcast for up to 2 years after the original air date. Learn more about the Journal of the American College of Surgeons, a monthly peer-reviewed journal publishing original contributions on all aspects of surgery, including scientific articles, collective reviews, experimental investigations, and more. #JACSOperativeWord

Dr. Ajay Kothari returned as our guest. We started out with my asking Ajay about the lasted FAA-SpaceX tension and the fact that it seemed like one part of the government, NASA, was in opposition to other parts of the government, FAA, re SpaceX and Musk. This was possibly contributing delays for Artemis. I asked Ajay what he knew about all of this given his presence next to the Beltway and his connections. Don't miss how Ajay responded to this question. Next, we turned our attention to his repurposing nuclear propulsion for power on the Moon, in cislunar and for going to Mars project. He talked about using thorium and then U233. He explained the project which was also depicted in his PPT on our blog. He fielded many email questions plus he talked with several callers. What do you think of his plan & project. Let us know with your blog comments.

Banking on Fraudology is presented by Unit21. Unit21's Risk and Compliance Infrastructure empowers your team to proactively combat financial crime and make informed decisions throughout the customer lifecycle. Learn more about our sponsor, Unit21:- See Unit21 in action https://www.unit21.ai/podcast- Follow Unit21 on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/unit21/- Watch Unit21 Virtual Summit Hailey session replay https://hubs.li/Q02LbZmC0-Request your copy : State of Fraud & AML ReportIn this episode of Banking on Fraudology, join hosts Hailey Windham and Trisha Kothari as they dive into the cutting-edge intersection of AI and fraud prevention. Tricia, CEO and founder of Unit 21, unveils the revolutionary AI Agent launched to automate business-specific checklists without requiring technical support. Discover how these no-code solutions empower fraud fighters to create customized checklists, providing critical summaries and enhancing fraud detection with unprecedented efficiency.Hailey and Tricia also tackle the escalating issue of modern scams targeting vulnerable groups like teenagers and the elderly. Through eye-opening discussions, they shed light on the sophisticated tactics used by scammers and the pivotal role technology can play in safeguarding susceptible communities. They explore the stigma and under-reporting of scams, especially sextortion, and advocate for increased societal protections.Don't miss an engaging conversation packed with practical advice, groundbreaking technology, and a shared vision for a safer digital world. Subscribe to Banking on Fraudology to stay updated on the latest in fraud prevention.--------------------------------------------------------About Hailey Windham:As a 2023 CU Rockstar Recipient, Hailey Windham, CFCS (Certified Financial Crimes Specialist) demonstrated unbounding passion for educating her community, organization and credit union membership on scams in the market and best practices to avoid them. She has implemented several programs within her previous organizations that aim at holistically learning about how to prevent and detect fraud targeted at membership and employees. Windham's initiatives to build strong relationships and partnerships throughout the credit union community and industry experts have led to countless success stories. Her applied knowledge of payments system programs combined with her experience in fraud investigations offers practical concepts that are transferable, no matter the organization's size. Connect with Hailey on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hailey-windham/ Banking on Fraudology is part of the Fraudology Podcast Network.

Last week, I had an insightful podcast interview with Hamel Kothari, the co-founder and CTO of Brigit.We discussed how they've grown to over $100M in revenue, 1 million paying subscribers, and stayed profitable for more than two years. Brigit has built one of the top financial apps, ranking above companies like Barclays and Robinhood in the App Store.In the episode, we explore how they thrived in a space many investors were skeptical about.If you're interested in fintech or scaling a business, this podcast offers some valuable lessons on building a successful consumer fintech company.___Connect with Rex on social media:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rexsalisbury/Twitter: https://twitter.com/rexsalisburyTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rex.salisburyInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/rexsalisbury/

The new Dean of the Gwen Ifill School of Media, Humanities and Social Sciences, Dr. Ammina Kothari, talks about her new role at the prestigious institution, the presidential debate and election and the state of public affairs journalism.

The science of happiness shows that you can literally hardwire your brain to be happier.  Listen to this informative interview with Hashish Kothari to learn how you can re-wire your brain in as little as 60 seconds.  Ashish is a transformational leader, the Founder & CEO of Happiness Squad, the host of the Happiness Squad Podcast, and author of the Amazon No. 1 Bestseller, "Hardwired for Happiness."  You can reach Ashish at his website https://happinesssquad.com. Some of the highlights Ashish shares:What keeps us stuck in fear?Why does "pursuing happiness" lead to unhappiness?What is the formula for success?Personal story of working hard, achieving financial, corporate, and relationship success yet feeling anxiety and despair rather than satisfaction and happiness - what's wrong?Why am I not flourishing?How we can transform from fear to freedomHow to make ourselves a "research lab"Using "me-search" to see if something works for youWhy it's important to align our work/career with our talents, strengths, and what we loveWe are drowning in knowledge but parched for practiceHow to bridge the gap between knowing and doingThe path of knowing, doing and becoming come through practice and sharing with othersHow to change how you show upUsing "micro practices" to rewire your brain in just 1-5 minutes a dayStart with something small, connect with something you already do, do it together and celebrateHow to use a "mindful minute" to recenter throughout the work dayTaking 6 mindful breaths is enough to make a differenceBring your mind to your body - your body has no choice but to live in the present, but our minds can wander to the past or worry about the future - how to bring your mind to the presentOvercoming feelings of overwhelmStop doing for a moment and just beWhen we feel overwhelmed we tend to either react or try to numb ourselvesWe exist in a sympathetic "fight or flight" state 70-90% of the timeWhen we have an energy deficit, it negatively affects our relationshipsLive a life without regretsWe can't choose what happens to us, but we can choose how we show up and how we respondWe become what we practiceWe can reprogram our brainsIt is doable!And morePlease share, subscribe, leave a rating and review, visit the Linda's Corner website at lindascornerpodcast.com and/or follow on youtube, facebook, instagram, and pinterest @lindascornerpodcast. Thanks!Also please visit the Hope for Healing website at hopeforhealingfoundation.org for free resources to increase happiness, build confidence and self esteem, improve relationships, manage stress, and calm feelings of depression and anxiety.   Become the champion of your own story as you overcome your challenges. 

Meg is joined by Shruti Kothari, Director of Industry Initiatives at Blue Shield California, an independent member of the Blue Shield Association with 4.7 million members, 7,800 employees, and $22.9 billion in annual revenue that provides health care service plans to residents of California. Shruti is also the founder of Women of Community, an organization focused on increasing representation of women of color in healthcare leadership, as well as the co-founder of the start-up Crown Society. She serves as a Board Member/Advisor for several organizations, including the Family Caregiver Alliance, Reverence, and Asian Pacific Fund. In this episode, Shruti dives into her role as an equitable health care transformation advocate with experience working as a health educator, community mobilizer, quality improvement leader, early stage startup operator, and in venture capital. Meg and Shruti explore topics ranging from scaling transformative concepts, such as value-based payment models, to her career path and experiences as a woman of color in the healthcare sphere.Further Reading:Blue Shield of California Annual Mission ReportRock Health's 2023 Honoree - Shruti Kothari — Top 50 in Digital HealthNamed a US Best Managed Company for the fifth straight year and as a Gold Standard honoree for the second time (Sponsored by Deloitte Private and The Wall Street Journal)Recognized as one of the most #CommunityMinded companies in the U.S. by Points of Light, the world's largest nonprofit dedicated to accelerating people-powered change. This is the third time we have been honored for our commitment to Stand for What's Right.New Advisory Council Member Spotlight: Shruti KothariIndustry Initiatives Director Shruti Kothari Named to Business Insider "30 Under 40" Transforming Health CareFounder | Women of CommunityWhy Health Data Sharing Needs To Be A Priority For LGBTQ+ AdvocacyCalifornia's homelessness crisis highlights need for optimized data sharing - Capitol WeeklyDebunking Misconceptions: Health Plans Play A Crucial Role In Data SharingWhat Health Plans Wish the Healthcare Innovation Ecosystem KnewOpinion: We Need to Balance Innovation with Equity in the Rush to Reimagine Primary CareThe Exec: Blue Shield's Kothari on Co-opetition and Intersectionality | HealthLeaders MediaEpisode Credits: The Game-Changing Women of Healthcare is a production of The Krinsky Company. Hosted by Meg Escobosa. Produced by Meg Escobosa, Calvin Marty, Chelsea Ho, Medina Sabic, Markala Comfort, and Wendy Nielsen.Edited, engineered, and mixed by Calvin Marty. All music composed and performed by Calvin Marty. ©2024 The Krinsky Company

April 2: In this Interview in Action from HIMSS ‘24 Ray Lowe, SVP of AltaMed, and Kevon Kothari, Chief Growth Officer at Certify, delve into the realm of patient experience. They discuss all things workflow optimization, shedding light on Certify's efforts to streamline patient intake processes and enhance the overall healthcare journey. Thought-provoking questions arise: How can technology like facial recognition improve accessibility for elderly patients? What role does automation play in optimizing workflows within healthcare facilities? And how do such innovations integrate with existing systems like EPIC, filling gaps and enhancing patient engagement? These questions prompt reflection on the evolving landscape of healthcare technology and its impact on patient care.

#HOTELMARS: Thorium Molten Salt Reactor for Earth, the Moon, Mars and space flight. Ajay Kothari, Space Review. https://www.thespacereview.com/article/4429/1 1920 Texas

Dr. Kothari returned to discuss in more detail the use of thorium molten salt reactors for electrical grid power and power in space. Read the full summary of this program at www.thespaceshow.com for this date, Tuesday, Feb. 20,2024.

In today's fast-paced world, many of us struggle to find true happiness and balance. Despite our well-being practices, like yoga, we often fail to translate its benefits into our daily lives. Many people practice yoga to relax and find peace. However, they often struggle to keep that calm feeling once they leave their yoga class and return to their busy lives.In this podcast, Ashish Kothari and Alicia Rae Parks, Manager of Happiness Squad's REWIRE Yoga Program, talk about how to make the benefits of yoga last longer, even after you leave the yoga mat. They introduce a special program called Rewire Yoga, which helps you use yoga in your everyday life, not just in class. Alicia shares her own story about how yoga helped her through tough times. She's a yoga teacher dedicated to bringing authenticity and a sense of community to her practice. She has transformed her life and teaching approach by shifting from fear to happiness. As the Program Manager of the REWIRE YOGA program, Alicia aims to help yoga teachers enhance their skills and deepen their practice, both on and off the mat. Her mission is to empower teachers to thrive in their profession and to make “happiness” a key element in the yoga community.Things you will learn from this episode:Integrating Yoga into Daily LifeWhy you should try the Rewire Yoga ProgramPersonal Transformation Through YogaHow Yoga Brings Holistic Well-being This is your invitation to shift to a more purposeful and meaningful life! Tune in to this episode now and start making a difference.Resources:Alicia Rae Park's Website: https://linktr.ee/Aliciaraeyoga Rewire Yoga Program: https://community.happinesssquad.com/plans/361217?bundle_token=147d27a5abebb960fd96c25f21e597ab&utm_source=manual Books:Hardwired for Happiness: 9 Proven Practices to Overcome Stress and Live Your Best Life.https://www.amazon.com/Hardwired-Happiness-Proven-Practices-Overcome/dp/1544534655

On today's episode, Pooja Kothari, Esq. dives into the tricky subject of how to identify and respond to micro aggressions and unconscious biases. Pooja spent 7 years as a public defender at the Legal Aid Society, Criminal Defense Practice in Brooklyn trying numerous felony and misdemeanor cases. She is the founder of Boundless Awareness, LLC—a consulting firm that develops customized unconscious bias training for law firms, nonprofits, and universities. Pooja values compassion and nonjudgement, creating experiential, interactive workshops that engage clients in safe, fun, and fulfilling anti-bias education. On the show, we cover what micro aggressions and unconscious biases are. Pooja discusses the impacts of micro aggressions on marginalized students and professionals and shares tips for how to respond to them in the moment. She also reminds us of the importance of checking our own privileges as a way to uncover biases we may hold. To learn more, check out the companion resource list she's shared with us linked here. You can connect with Pooja on her website  boundlessawareness.com, via email pooja@boundlessawareness.com, on Instagram (@boundlessawarenessllc) and on LinkedIn Preorder my forthcoming book by going to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠isgradschoolforme.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sign up⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for my group coaching program to start working on your personal growth and gain sustainable productivity skills.  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Book me⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to speak at your upcoming professional development event.  Follow me on your favorite social media platforms: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Get my free 15-page ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Grad School Femtoring Resource Kit⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, which includes essential information to prepare for and navigate grad school Click the links to support the show with a ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠one-time donation⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠monthly donation⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.  And to learn more about our sponsorship packages, email us at gradschoolfemtoring@gmail.com.  To download episode transcripts and access more resources, go to my website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://gradschoolfemtoring.com/podcast/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠   *The Grad School Femtoring Podcast is for educational purposes only and not intended to be a substitute for therapy or other professional services.*  --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/gradschoolfemtoring/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/gradschoolfemtoring/support

In our fast-paced world, many of us struggle with self-trust and tapping into our inner intuition. It's tough to achieve personal and professional success when these crucial qualities aren't quite working as they should. But hold on – there's hope! In this exciting episode of the HAPPINESS SQUAD Podcast, we've got a solution for you. Our guest, Jesse Janelle, is a real pro when it comes to personal development. With her impressive track record as the founder and CEO of Gemini Leadership and the brains behind the Soul Session method, Jesse's got the expertise we all need.Jesse is an ICF certified transformational coach, and her TEDx talk on the power of self-trust is in the top 2 percent most viewed talks of all time. Her mission is to help mystic-minded millennials reach new realms of possibilities for their lives.In the conversation, Ashish Kothari and Jesse explore how to boost your self-trust and give you practical tips to kick your intuition into high gear. They also explore the power of tarot-based leadership coaching, and how leaders can not only level up their own self-development but also help others do the same.Things you will learn in this episode:Understand Why Happiness Means FreedomA Tarot-based Approach to Leadership CoachingThe 3 elements of Self-trustHow to Rebuild Your Self-trust and Reconnect with Your IntuitionDon't miss out on this chance to supercharge your life! Join the conversation and let's unlock the secrets to self-trust and intuition that can transform your world.Resources:/https://geminileaders.com/ 7minutetarot.com (Free Masterclass)Books:Hardwired for Happiness : https://www.amazon.com/Hardwired-Happiness-Proven-Practices-Overcome/dp/1544534655

Notion is a productivity platform that blends all your workplace apps into a single platform, including team projects, wikis, and docs. Last valued at $10bn, Notion's customers include teams at Amazon, Nike, Uber, Figma, Deel, and more! In this episode, Sandhya Hegde chats with Akshay Kothari, co-founder and COO of Notion. Join us as we discuss:  00:00 Preview: Building Notion 1.0 03:32 How Akshay met Ivan Zhao and invested in Notion 5:21 Lessons from the Pulse Journey 8:09 Building Notion's first templates 12:43 Why Akshay joined Notion full-time 16:26 Akshay's first few months at Notion 21:59 Evolution of Notion's GTM strategy and Enterprise vs SMB 26:13 Akshay's GTM learnings and challenges  34:37 Launching AI Features in Notion 38:44 Customer Feedback and Future of Notion AI Sandhya Hegde is a General Partner at Unusual Ventures, leading investments in modern SaaS companies with a focus on AI. Previously an early executive at Amplitude, Sandhya is a product-led growth (PLG) coach and mentor. She can be reached at sandhya@unusual.vc and  Twitter  LinkedIn  Akshay Kothari is the co-founder and COO of Notion.  Unusual Ventures is a seed-stage venture capital firm designed from the ground up to give a distinct advantage to founders building the next generation of software companies. Unusual has invested in category-defining companies like Webflow, Arctic Wolf Networks, Carta, Robinhood, and Harness. Learn more about us at https://www.unusual.vc/.

Change often seems intimidating, and the idea of transforming our lives can feel like an unattainable dream. But what if we told you that change is not just possible, but within your reach?In this new inspiring episode of the HAPPINESS SQUAD Podcast, Ashish and Anil sit with Shannon Wallis, Founder of Cascade Leadership.Shannon Wallis advises industry, independent sector, philanthropy, and C-suite executives on strategy, organization performance, culture change, and social responsibility. Having worked with over 20,000 leaders on six continents, she helps launch big ideas and create new realities for leadership, teams, and organizations. Her experience includes collaboration with five Fortune 500 companies, including Microsoft, Amazon, Google, and Coca-Cola, as well as nonprofits. She's also a prolific contributor to over five books and the author of "We the Change: Launching Big Ideas and Creating New Realities," a book inspired by her 500-mile trek in Spain.In this episode, you'll discover the true power of embracing change, as Ashish and Shannon delves into how we can all shift our mindset to see change not as a hurdle, but as an opportunity to manifest and create the life we desire.Shannon's approachable and practical advice shows us that with the right attitude and tools, transforming our lives is entirely achievable. Things you will learn from the episode:The role of presence in redefining happinessHow to manifest your goals and make anything possibleThe power of visualization and gratitudeThe Concept of "We the Change" and Collective EmpowermentReady to embark on a journey of self-discovery and transformation? Listen to Shannon's empowering insights and start creating your new reality today.Resources:/Contact Cascade Leadership: info@cascadeleadership.solutions Cascade Leadership Website: https://shannonwallis.solutions/ Books:/WE the Change: Launching Big Ideas and Creating New Realities