The Voyager Podcast

Voyager Technologies
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Voyager Technologies CSO and CMO John "Slick" Baum sits down with the leaders, builders, and operators defining the next era of aerospace and national defense. From propulsion labs to Capitol Hill, from low-Earth orbit to lunar infrastructure — this is where strategy meets execution, and where the people doing the work tell it straight.

Episodes

  1. Aug 21

    Tim Kopra: What It’s Really Like to Be in Space and What Comes After the ISS

    Voyager Technologies Chief Human Exploration Officer and former NASA astronaut Tim Kopra joins John “Slick” Baum for the second episode of The Voyager Podcast: a conversation about patience, leadership, life in orbit and the future of human spaceflight. Tim recounts how the Columbia disaster changed the trajectory of the space program and left his astronaut class waiting nine years for its first mission. He describes the years of preparation that followed and the moment it all became worthwhile: opening the hatch for his first spacewalk just four days after launch and seeing Earth pass beneath him at five miles per second. He also reflects on the experience of viewing our planet from orbit, from its interconnected cities and remarkably thin atmosphere to the seemingly endless abyss beyond it. After two missions and 244 days in space, Tim explains how those experiences shaped his perspective on teamwork, exploration and humanity’s place in the universe. Tim then traces the path that took him from West Point and Army aviation to aerospace engineering, test pilot school and NASA. He shares the lessons in discipline, humility and leadership that prepared him for human spaceflight, including why astronaut selection ultimately comes down to one surprisingly simple question: Who would you want to go camping with? The conversation also explores what comes after the International Space Station, why maintaining a continuous human presence in low Earth orbit matters, and how commercial stations such as Starlab can advance scientific research, commercialization and future missions to the Moon and Mars. Topics Covered• The Columbia disaster and its impact on NASA’s astronaut corps• Waiting nine years for a first space mission• Training for the space shuttle and International Space Station• Opening the hatch for Tim’s first spacewalk• Seeing Earth, its atmosphere and the abyss from orbit• Life aboard the ISS and 244 days in space• Tim’s path to West Point• Leadership lessons from Army aviation• Flying Apaches and becoming an experimental test pilot• The unconventional path from the Army to NASA• T-38 flight training and preparing for high-consequence environments• The international legacy of the ISS• The transition to commercial space stations• Starlab and the future of continuous human presence in orbit• Using low Earth orbit as a proving ground for the Moon and Mars• What NASA’s astronaut-selection process reveals about teamwork• Why human spaceflight is ultimately a team sport Timestamps 01:00 The Columbia disaster and its aftermath03:00 Tim’s first mission and spacewalk04:00 Experiencing Earth from orbit06:00 Earth’s atmosphere and the abyss beyond it07:00 Tim’s path to West Point10:00 Life and leadership at West Point12:00 The childhood dream of becoming an astronaut14:00 Army aviation and leadership under pressure16:00 Building an unconventional path to NASA18:00 T-38 training and spaceflight readiness20:00 Sharing the experience of space and 244 days in orbit21:00 Tim’s role at Voyager Technologies22:00 The international legacy of the ISS24:00 The transition toward commercial spaceflight25:00 Starlab and continuous human presence in orbit27:00 Building a purpose-designed commercial space station28:00 Connecting low Earth orbit, the Moon and Mars30:00 Artemis II and the risks of lunar flight31:00 What it takes to become an astronaut32:00 The “Who would you camp with?” test33:00 Why human spaceflight is a team sport

  2. Jun 22

    Dylan Taylor: Voyager, Starlab, and the Future of Space

    Voyager Technologies founder, CEO and chairman Dylan Taylor joins John "Slick" Baum for the first episode of The Voyager Podcast: a conversation about leadership, exploration, purpose and the future of human spaceflight. Dylan reflects on growing up in Moscow, Idaho, the influence of his father’s engineering career, and the early experiences that shaped his curiosity about the world. He traces his path from engineering studies and a Swiss electronics company to the University of Chicago, global business leadership, public-company operations and ultimately a deeper question: What difference am I making? That question led him back to a lifelong fascination with space. Dylan shares how he became involved in the commercial space industry, how he met Matthew Kuta, and how Voyager evolved from an early investment platform into an operating company built for the next era of space and defense technology. The conversation also explores Voyager’s role in commercial space infrastructure, including Bishop Airlock, Starlab, low Earth orbit, lunar commerce and the company’s three-L strategy: LEO, lunar and Lagrange. Dylan and Slick also discuss Vista, Voyager’s research-flywheel concept connecting universities, industry, microgravity research and future missions across LEO, the Moon and deep space. Topics Covered  Dylan Taylor’s childhood in Idaho  Growing up around engineering, international students and outdoor adventure  The problem-solving value of an engineering education  Early career lessons from a Swiss electronics company  Business school at the University of Chicago  Public-company leadership, capital access and growth strategy  The Aconcagua climb and the leadership value of turning back  Purpose, ambition and the search for meaningful work  How Dylan entered the commercial space industry  The formation and operating vision behind Voyager Technologies  Bishop Airlock and commercial infrastructure on the International Space Station  Starlab and the future of commercial space stations  Voyager’s three-L strategy: low Earth orbit, lunar and Lagrange  Lunar commerce, moon regolith, dust mitigation, power, mobility and habitation  Vista and the future of university-led space research  Inspiring the next generation of explorers, researchers and astronauts Timestamps 00:00 Welcome to the first episode of The Voyager Podcast 00:41 Dylan Taylor’s origin story: Idaho, family and early influences 04:20 Engineering, critical thinking and becoming a technologist 05:47 Early career at a Swiss electronics company 07:54 University of Chicago, business school and a major career pivot 10:35 Public-company leadership, IPOs and capital strategy 12:30 Adventure, endurance and Aconcagua 15:07 Risk, ambition and the decision to turn around 17:57 Mindset: remembering the good shots 19:00 From corporate success to purpose and space 20:45 The Last Lecture and rediscovering a childhood passion 21:30 Early-stage space investing and pattern recognition 22:30 Meeting Matthew Kuta and forming Voyager 23:28 Voyager’s evolution from “holding company” perception to operating-company vision 24:00 Defense, national security and commercial space innovation 25:06 ISS mission management, Bishop Airlock and commercial space infrastructure 26:13 Starlab and Voyager’s three-L strategy 27:50 Lunar commerce: power, mobility, habitation and moon regolith 30:14 Vista and the global research flywheel 32:00 Research, international collaboration and inspiring the next generation 32:54 “Space is the place”

  3. Jun 20

    Welcome to The Voyager Podcast

    Space and defense are converging faster than ever. New missions, new threats, new technologies, and new partnerships are reshaping what it takes to build, launch, protect, and sustain critical capabilities for the U.S. and its allies. The Voyager Podcast goes inside that transformation. Hosted by Voyager’s Chief Strategy Officer and Chief Marketing Officer, John “Slick” Baum, each episode features direct conversations with the executives, engineers, astronauts, warfighters, policymakers, and entrepreneurs defining the future of aerospace and national defense. These are not scripted panels or surface-level talking points. They are candid discussions with people carrying real responsibility across propulsion, energetics, advanced electronics, mission management, commercial space operations, national security, and exploration beyond low-Earth orbit. Guests include Voyager leaders and external voices from across NASA, the Department of Defense, allied partner nations, the commercial space sector, and the broader aerospace and defense industrial base. Expect sharp perspectives on national security, the space economy, industrial capacity, commercial space stations, lunar infrastructure, deep-space missions, and the hard engineering required to turn complexity into capability. The Voyager Podcast is for those building, funding, deploying, and defending the systems that move missions forward. New episodes drop regularly on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.

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About

Voyager Technologies CSO and CMO John "Slick" Baum sits down with the leaders, builders, and operators defining the next era of aerospace and national defense. From propulsion labs to Capitol Hill, from low-Earth orbit to lunar infrastructure — this is where strategy meets execution, and where the people doing the work tell it straight.

Information

  • Creator
    Voyager Technologies
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    3
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Voyager Technologies
  • Show Website
    The Voyager Podcast