Aspiring Martians

Aspiring Martians

Aspiring Martians is the podcast for those captivated by the vision of living on Mars. Each episode unpacks the realities of Martian exploration, blending hard science with the personal stories of those preparing to embark on humanity’s most ambitious journey. From scientists to dreamers, pioneers to future settlers, we bring you the voices shaping what life could be like on Mars. Whether you’re an aspiring Martian yourself or just curious about the journey, join us as we navigate the incredible risks, rewards, and realities of life beyond Earth.

  1. 2D AGO

    Inside the Asclepios Project with Matthew Acevski, Ambre Bexter, & Joseph Hong

    What does it actually take to simulate life on the Moon… inside a Swiss mountain? In this month’s Inside the Habitat, we go deep into the Asclepios Project, a student-led analog mission program designed to prepare the next generation of astronauts, engineers, and scientists for the realities of space exploration. Founded at EPFL, Asclepios brings together students from around the world to design, train for, and execute fully immersive lunar simulations in underground environments like the Sasso San Gottardo fortress in the Swiss Alps. These missions aren’t just about roleplay; they’re about real science, real pressure, and real collaboration under extreme conditions. Joe is joined by Matthew Acevski, Ambre Bexter, and Joseph Hong, who share what it’s like to go from applicant to astronaut, how mission control operates behind the scenes, and what happens when you spend two weeks cut off from sunlight, normal routines, and, occasionally, basic privacy. From survival training and psychological stress to cutting-edge experiments in robotics, life support, and human behavior, this episode offers a rare look at how we’re preparing for the future of living beyond Earth. And if you’re inspired by what Asclepios is building, you can support their upcoming mission, Asclepios VI, and help bring the next generation of lunar explorers to life. Asclepios VI GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/donate-to-support-our-student-space-mission ~ A huge thank you as well to Matthew, Ambre, and Joseph for joining me today and sharing their work on the Asclepius mission. And of course, thank you to Nick Thorburn for the stellar theme music, Ceci Giglio for the incredible graphics, Jero Squartini for the amazing animations, to RDan, Leila, Inka, and Carl for admining the Facebook group, and to my family for supporting this project.

    1h 6m

  2. APR 27

    The Overview Effect on Mars with Frank White

    What happens to the Overview Effect when Earth is no longer the center of your universe? In this special Everyday Mars episode, Joe sits down with Frank White, the visionary behind The Overview Effect, to explore how one of the most profound psychological experiences in spaceflight might transform as humanity pushes toward Mars. For decades, astronauts in low Earth orbit have described a powerful shift in perspective when looking back at our planet, one that dissolves borders, reshapes identity, and fosters a deep sense of connection. But what happens when that view changes? When Earth becomes smaller, more distant… eventually just a pale dot in the void? Together, Joe and Frank unpack how the Overview Effect might evolve across deep space missions: from orbit, to the Moon, and all the way to Mars. They explore whether future astronauts could experience something entirely new on their journey and whether the first humans to set foot on Mars might feel a fundamentally different kind of perspective shift upon arrival. Along the way, they dive into the origins of the Overview Effect, the role of perception and distance, how identity may shift for future Martians, and why this experience may be more than just emotional...it could shape the future of humanity itself. And with today marking the final day to support the #SendFrankToSpace campaign, this conversation also carries a unique weight: the chance to send the man who defined this phenomenon into space to experience it firsthand. Learn more and donate: moondao.com/overview Seeing Is Believing: The Overview Effect Illustrated - https://a.co/d/0gJnoRhr American Revolution - https://a.co/d/0ePG5xXk ~ A huge thank you as well to Frank White for joining me today and sharing his incredible perspective, and a special thank you to MoonDAO for putting together the #SendFrankToSpace campaign and for all the work they’ve done to make this possible. Today is the last day to contribute, so if you want to help Frank experience the Overview Effect for himself, you can head to moondao.com/overview to learn more and get involved. And of course, thank you to Nick Thorburn for the stellar theme music, Ceci Giglio for the incredible graphics, Jero Squartini for the amazing animations, to RDan, Leila, Inka, and Carl for admining the Facebook group, and to my family for supporting this project—even when conversations drift toward how seeing Earth might change everything.

    46 min

  3. APR 21

    The Art of the Analog with Cassandra Klos

    From Mars simulations… to mission control. This week on Aspiring Martians, Joe is joined by Cassandra Klos, a photographer, curator, and analog astronaut whose work lives at the intersection of art, science, and the future of human spaceflight. Cassandra is the creator of Mars on Earth, a long-running project documenting space analog missions, those carefully designed simulations where humans rehearse life on Mars right here on Earth. But she doesn’t just photograph these missions...she lives them. From serving as crew journalist to commanding analog missions, she’s experienced firsthand what it means to simulate life on another world. More recently, her work has taken her even closer to the real thing. As a photo correspondent covering Artemis II, she’s been behind the scenes at Johnson Space Center, documenting mission control as humanity prepares to return to deep space. This episode is about what happens when you blur the line between simulation and reality… and why the stories we tell about space might shape the future just as much as the missions themselves. ~ A huge thank you Cassandra for joining me today and sharing her story and perspective, to Nick Thorburn for the stellar theme music, to Ceci Giglio for the incredible graphics, to Jero Squartini for the amazing animations, to RDan, Leila, Inka, and Carl for admining the Facebook group, and to my family for supporting this project.

    57 min

  4. APR 14

    The Kenyan Dream of Mars with Isaac Macharia Gathu

    What does it look like to prepare for Mars… from a place the space industry often overlooks? In this episode of Aspiring Martians, I sit down with Isaac Macharia Gathu, founder and president of Mars Society Kenya, to talk about building a path to space where none previously existed. Isaac is a Kenyan IT technician, entrepreneur, analog astronaut, and one of the leading voices pushing for Africa’s role in the future of human space exploration. Through his work, he’s not only growing a community of aspiring Martians across Kenya, but also developing real-world analog simulations like OASEAS and working toward a Mars habitat in the Chalbi Desert. His journey has captured global attention, including in the documentary Kenyan on Mars, but what makes Isaac’s story so compelling is not just the dream… it’s the discipline behind it. In this episode, we talked all about Kenyan pride in space exploration, building Mars Society Kenya, Maasai-inspired spacesuit beadwork, training for a future that hasn’t arrived yet, analog astronaut missions in Africa, creating opportunity where none exists, preparing for the World’s Biggest Analog, the power of representation in space, blending culture with technology, overcoming doubt and distance, community-driven space advocacy, and why pursuing your dream matters… even when the odds say otherwise. Kenyan on Mars documentary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8s-Gi4Zk0hUMars Society Kenya: https://kenyamarssociety.org/~ A huge thank you as well to Isaac for joining me today and sharing his story and perspective, to Nick Thorburn for the stellar theme music, to Ceci Giglio for the incredible graphics, to Jero Squartini for the amazing animations, to RDan, Leila, Inka, and Carl for admining the Facebook group, and to my family for supporting this project!

    28 min

  5. APR 7

    Inside the MENA Analog Mission with Salam Abualhayjaa

    What does it take to build a Mars mission… from scratch? In this month’s Inside the Habitat, we head to Wadi Rum, Jordan, a place so otherworldly it’s often called “The Valley of the Moon,” to explore MENA, the first women-led space organization in the region dedicated to STEM, inclusion, and human space exploration. Founded in 2024, MENA is already pushing boundaries, combining education, analog missions, and global collaboration to empower the next generation of scientists, engineers, and explorers. With over 250 students and young professionals involved, their work extends far beyond space, tackling real-world challenges like sustainability, water systems, and climate innovation. And at the center of it all is Salam Abualhayjaa, founder and CEO, a mechanical engineer specializing in spacesuit design, a science communicator, and someone quietly building the future of space exploration from the ground up. We talk about what it was like to run one of the very first missions as part of the World’s Biggest Analog, recently featured in National Geographic, and what happens when you try to build a Mars mission in the desert with limited resources, big ambition, and very little room for error. In this episode, we talked all about what Wadi Rum feels like, building community first, going from nothing to mission, bold leap beginnings, three-week deadline scramble, desert habitat build, bubble dome setup, mission control chaos, two-hour sleep nights, power outages reality, Mars-like isolation, crew psychology shifts, strangers to tension, real-time problem solving, spacesuit EVAs daily, learning on the fly, global analog collaboration, the World’s Biggest Analog, media and momentum, and how setbacks can turn into something much bigger than you ever planned. ~ A huge thank you as well to Salam and her team at MENA for joining me today and sharing their incredible work and perspective, to Nick Thorburn for the stellar theme music, to Ceci Giglio for the incredible graphics, to Jero Squartini for the amazing animations, to RDan, Leila, Inka, and Carl for admining the Facebook group, and to my family for supporting this project.

    53 min

  6. APR 1 ·  BONUS

    Artemis II: The Launch That Changes Our Future with Ben Bailey

    Today is one of those days that changes the trajectory of everything. As Artemis II launches humanity back beyond low Earth orbit for the first time in over 50 years, we’re marking the moment with a special bonus episode of Aspiring Martians. Because this mission isn’t just about going to the Moon. It’s about proving we can go further. Artemis II will send astronauts around the Moon aboard the Orion spacecraft, testing the systems, endurance, and operations that will define the next era of human spaceflight. It’s the bridge between where we’ve been… and where we’re going next. And that next step includes Mars. To help bring that future into focus, I’m joined by Ben Bailey, a member of NASA’s 2025 Astronaut Candidate Class Group 24, aka "the Platypi". Ben’s path to NASA is anything but typical. From building nuclear propulsion systems for aircraft carriers, to flying Black Hawk helicopters in high-risk environments, to becoming an experimental test pilot pushing aircraft to their limits, his career sits at the intersection of engineering, exploration, and extreme performance. Now, he’s training for missions that could take him to the Moon… and eventually beyond. This is a short but powerful conversation about what it takes to become an astronaut, what Artemis means for the future of exploration, and how close we really are to becoming a multi-planetary species. Because today isn’t just a launch. It’s a beginning. ~ A huge thank you as well to Ben for joining me today and taking the time to answer all my weird questions. I also want to thank Anna Schneider at NASA for helping coordinate all of this. And of course, thank you to Nick Thorburn for the stellar theme music, Ceci Giglio for the incredible graphics, Jero Squartini for the amazing animations, RDan, Leila, Inka, and Carl for admining the Facebook group, and to my family for supporting this project...even when me asking to excuse myself from the table turns into some epic lunar farewell speech.

    14 min

  7. MAR 31

    Periods on Mars with Manju Bangalore

    We’re going somewhere humanity hasn’t quite been willing to go yet… not physically, but conversationally. Because if we’re serious about building a future on Mars, we have to ask a simple question: are we designing that future for everyone? This week, I’m joined by Manju Bangalore: engineer, researcher, astronaut-in-training, and founder of Operation Period to explore one of the most overlooked gaps in human spaceflight: menstruation. From her work at NASA and in science policy to launching a pioneering effort to study periods in microgravity, Manju is helping redefine what it means to build truly human-centered systems in space. This is a conversation about science, stigma, autonomy, and design and why something that affects billions of people has been treated like an afterthought in space exploration. If Mars is going to be home… this is part of the blueprint. Check out Operation Period and their Red Shift Lab on their website: https://www.operationperiod.org/ Dive into more about Manju! https://www.astronautmanju.com/ A huge thank you as well to Manju for joining me today and sharing her time and perspective, to Kayley for helping coordinate and review everything, to Nick Thorburn for the stellar theme music, to Ceci Giglio for the incredible graphics, to Jero Squartini for the amazing animations, to RDan, Leila, Inka, and Carl for admining the Facebook group, and to my family for supporting this project—even when NASA design decisions become dinner table topics. References: Stats on menstruators: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10014781/World Bank stats: https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/water/brief/menstrual-health-and-hygieneOriginal Kotex ad: http://www.mum.org/kotexadwords.htmTampax Tampons with Courtney Cox Commercial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnmxLW4cO88100 tampons: https://people.com/nasa-engineers-packed-100-tampons-for-sally-ride-for-one-week-in-space-8781804Menstruation in spaceflight: Options for astronauts: https://www.kcl.ac.uk/archive/news/lsm/newsrecords/2016/apr/menstruation-in-spaceflight-options-for-astronauts?utm_source=chatgpt.comFirst study to measure toxic metals in tampons shows arsenic and lead, among other contaminants: https://publichealth.berkeley.edu/articles/spotlight/research/first-study-to-measure-toxic-metals-in-tampons-shows-arsenic-and-leadTampons as a source of exposure to metal(loid)s: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412024004355FDA launches tampon safety investigation after study finds toxic metals: https://publichealth.berkeley.edu/articles/spotlight/research/fda-launches-tampon-safety-investigation-after-study-finds-toxic-metals#:~:text=Two%20months%20after%20a%20study%20led%20by,its%20own%20investigation%20into%20the%20potential%20hazard.Menstruation in spaceflight: https://www.kcl.ac.uk/archive/news/lsm/newsrecords/2016/apr/menstruation-in-spaceflight-options-for-astronauts?utm_source=chatgpt.comAnalysis of menstrual effluent: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6016873/pdf/10020_2018_Article_9.pdfNext-gen tech can detect disease biomarker in period blood: https://www.psu.edu/news/research/story/next-gen-tech-can-detect-disease-biomarker-period-bloodMenstruAI: https://ethz.ch/en/news-and-events/eth-news/news/2025/05/sanitary-towels-morph-into-test-strips.htmlPotential for and challenges of menstrual blood as anon-invasive diagnostic specimen: current statusand future directions: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11305704/pdf/ms9-86-4591.pdfGinger for Pain Management in Primary Dysmenorrhea: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38770631/Effect of fennel on pain intensity in dysmenorrhoea: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3611645/pdf/AYU-33-311.pdfComparison of the effect of Chamomile: https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/bcd0/a6d6c9ffc4012c6178d41662bb0899972723.pdfHypatia astronauts:https://www.catalannews.com/tech-science/item/hypatia-astronauts-suggest-using-menstrual-blood-as-fertilizer-for-plants-on-mars

    1h 16m

  8. MAR 24

    Chasing Mars: The Long Game of Becoming an Astronaut with Alyssa Carson

    Today we've got the ULTIMATE aspiring Martian! This week, Joe is joined by Alyssa Carson: science communicator, astrobiologist, and one of the most recognizable voices of the so-called “Mars Generation.” You may know her as “Blueberry,” the kid who decided at just three years old that she wanted to go to Mars...and then actually kept going. But this conversation isn’t about a childhood dream. It’s about what happens after the dream sticks. We talk about what it really takes to stay committed to something as distant, and as uncertain, as Mars, how that path evolves over time, and why becoming an astronaut isn’t about a single job, but a collection of skills, experiences, and relentless curiosity. Alyssa shares how she found her way into astrobiology, what she’s studying now in her PhD, and how her work is helping answer one of the biggest questions we have: could life exist beyond Earth? We also get into the reality behind the headlines: what the public gets wrong about space, how safety and risk are actually approached, the importance of community and support systems, and why the future of space might look a lot more connected to everyday life than we think. Because becoming Martian isn’t about one giant leap. It’s about thousands of small, deliberate steps. ~ A huge thank you as well to Alyssa for joining me today and sharing her time and perspective, to her dad Bert for coordinating all of this, to Nick Thorburn for the stellar theme music, to Ceci Giglio for the incredible graphics, to Jero Squartini for the amazing animations, to RDan, Leila, Inka, and Carl for admining the Facebook group, and to my family for supporting this project

    51 min
See All (71)

Trailer

Hosts & Guests

5
out of 5
7 Ratings

About

Aspiring Martians is the podcast for those captivated by the vision of living on Mars. Each episode unpacks the realities of Martian exploration, blending hard science with the personal stories of those preparing to embark on humanity’s most ambitious journey. From scientists to dreamers, pioneers to future settlers, we bring you the voices shaping what life could be like on Mars. Whether you’re an aspiring Martian yourself or just curious about the journey, join us as we navigate the incredible risks, rewards, and realities of life beyond Earth.

Information

  • Creator
    Aspiring Martians
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    71
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Aspiring Martians
  • Show Website
    Aspiring Martians

You Might Also Like