SpaceBase Podcast

Emeline Paat-Dahlstrom

SpaceBase is a social enterprise who's mission is to democratize access to space through education, entrepreneurship and community building starting in New Zealand. This podcast is dedicated to creating the journey from space enthusiast to space entrepreneurs through insightful interviews with aerospace specialists, investors, and entrepreneurs sharing their experience and knowledge of the space industry, and their personal journeys.To support the podcast, please consider becoming a patron.Since its incorporation in 2017, SpaceBase has collaborated with economic development agencies, local and national governments, and advocacy groups, startups, investors, educators to deliver over 300 educational presentations, briefings, and workshops, national space and aerospace competitions, as well as helping birth space communities and organizations locally and globally. SpaceBase also assists in technical due diligence, consulting projects for investors, industry stakeholders, and space startups. SpaceBase created a platform for the NZ Aerospace Directory and has co-founded the Global Space Enablers Network (GSEN), a decentralised alliance of organizations focused on enabling the space enabler worldwide. 

  1. 2d ago

    Resilience, Rockets, and Reinvention: An Interview with Zhanna Nazaryan

    An interview with Zhanna Nazaryan, Principal Manufacturing Engineer at Rocket Lab. Zhanna has built an impressive career across some of the world’s leading aerospace and advanced manufacturing organizations, including Rocket Lab, Blue Origin, Boeing, GKN Aerospace, Alcoa, and Apollo Manufacturing. Her expertise spans spacecraft composites, manufacturing engineering, quality systems, metrology, production scaling, advanced materials, and aerospace operations. At Rocket Lab, Zhanna leads advanced composite manufacturing and thermal protection systems for spacecraft production, helping develop the processes, tooling, materials, and manufacturing strategies needed to build flight-ready hardware at scale. Prior to Rocket Lab, she worked on major aerospace programs at Blue Origin and Boeing, supporting everything from testing and production readiness to quality assurance and manufacturing optimization. Throughout her career, Zhanna has specialized in transforming complex engineering challenges into practical manufacturing solutions while driving quality, efficiency, and innovation in highly demanding environments. Her journey offers a unique perspective on what it takes to move from engineering concepts to reliable spacecraft production—and why manufacturing excellence is such a critical part of the space industry. Hosts:  SpaceBase Founder Emeline Paat-Dahlstrom Resources: Society of Women Engineers Women in Space Aotearoa New Zealand NASA Lessons Learned System Support the show

    Resilience, Rockets, and Reinvention: An Interview with Zhanna Nazaryan
  2. Jul 28

    Advocate for the Stars - Building Africa's Space Ecosystem: An Interview with Yvette Barrington-Brown

    We continue our alternating series featuring members of the Global Space Enablers Network — GSEN — highlighting individuals helping shape the future of the global space ecosystem through entrepreneurship, investment, policy, and international collaboration. An interview with Advocate Yvette Barrington-Brown, CEO of NewCraft Aerospace and Cape Constellation, and one of the emerging leaders helping shape Africa's commercial space ecosystem. Yvette's career is anything but conventional. After more than 25 years as an Advocate of the High Court of South Africa, where she specialized in complex litigation, governance, regulatory strategy, and institutional leadership, she made the bold decision to transition into the space sector. Today, she leads NewCraft Aerospace and Cape Constellation—a collaborative innovation hub dedicated to building Africa's next generation of space companies through venture creation, mentorship, investment, and ecosystem development. Together with Africa Space Ventures, these initiatives aim to strengthen Africa's sovereign space capabilities while creating globally competitive businesses rooted on the continent. Her journey is one of reinvention, resilience, entrepreneurship, and purpose—demonstrating that building a thriving space ecosystem requires not only engineers and scientists, but also visionary leaders who understand governance, institutions, investment, and long-term strategy. Hosts:  SpaceBase Founder Emeline Paat-Dahlstrom Support the show

    Advocate for the Stars - Building Africa's Space Ecosystem: An Interview with Yvette Barrington-Brown
  3. Jun 21

    Law in the Final Frontier: Navigating Space Regulation with Scott Schneider

    Continuing on the alternating series featuring members of the Global Space Enablers Network — GSEN — highlighting individuals helping shape the future of the global space ecosystem through policy, education, entrepreneurship, and international collaboration. This interview is with Scott Schneider — Special Counsel at the International Aerospace Law & Policy Group, Managing Director at Raker, former Director of the Space Law Council of Australia and New Zealand, and a globally engaged advocate for space law, regulation, and governance. Scott’s career sits at the fascinating intersection of law, policy, aerospace commercialization, and international cooperation. After completing his Master of Laws in Air and Space Law at Leiden University, he went on to lead the regulatory team at Southern Launch, helping secure Australia’s first commercial space launch licenses. He has worked extensively across spacecraft licensing, insurance frameworks, export controls, international law, and aerospace regulation, while also contributing to organizations including the International Institute of Space Law, the Space Generation Advisory Council, the Space Industry Association of Australia, and the International Space University. Beyond policy and regulation, Scott is deeply involved in education and global dialogue - teaching law and economics across universities and engaging with emerging space ecosystems around the world. Hosts:  SpaceBase Founder Emeline Paat-Dahlstrom Resources: Space Generation Advisory Council International Space University Committee on the Peaceful Use of Outer Space (COPUOS) United Nations Office of Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) Secure World Foundation Contacts for Scott Schneider: email: scott.schneider@rakerwork.com telegram: t.me/openouterspace Support the show

    Law in the Final Frontier: Navigating Space Regulation with Scott Schneider
  4. May 24

    Cataysing and Growing New Zealand's Deep Tech Community: An Interview with Mat Rowe

    An interview with Mat Rowe — Founding Parter and Executive Director of Outset Ventures, New Zealand’s leading deep-tech incubator and investment platform. Mat has spent more than two decades working at the intersection of science, engineering, and commercialization, helping turn breakthrough technologies into globally significant companies. Before founding Outset Ventures, he was part of the founding team at LanzaTech, contributing to the scale-up of one of the world’s most recognized industrial biotech companies across the US, Europe, and Asia. He has also co-founded and supported multiple deep-tech ventures including Dotterel Technologies, focused on UAV audio systems and drone noise reduction, and Mint Innovation, which recovers precious metals from e-waste using biometallurgy. Through Outset Ventures, Mat has helped build an ecosystem supporting some of New Zealand’s most ambitious science and engineering founders — including companies connected to aerospace, climate tech, advanced materials, biotech, and robotics. Mat is known for his hands-on approach with technical founders and his passion for helping breakthrough ideas move from prototype to global impact. Hosts:  SpaceBase Founder Emeline Paat-Dahlstrom Resources: Outset Ventures - NZ incubator and investment platform What Founder's Want - resources platform for startup Founders Y Combinator - US based startup accelerator and venture capital firm Support the show

    Cataysing and Growing New Zealand's Deep Tech Community: An Interview with Mat Rowe

Ratings & Reviews

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About

SpaceBase is a social enterprise who's mission is to democratize access to space through education, entrepreneurship and community building starting in New Zealand. This podcast is dedicated to creating the journey from space enthusiast to space entrepreneurs through insightful interviews with aerospace specialists, investors, and entrepreneurs sharing their experience and knowledge of the space industry, and their personal journeys.To support the podcast, please consider becoming a patron.Since its incorporation in 2017, SpaceBase has collaborated with economic development agencies, local and national governments, and advocacy groups, startups, investors, educators to deliver over 300 educational presentations, briefings, and workshops, national space and aerospace competitions, as well as helping birth space communities and organizations locally and globally. SpaceBase also assists in technical due diligence, consulting projects for investors, industry stakeholders, and space startups. SpaceBase created a platform for the NZ Aerospace Directory and has co-founded the Global Space Enablers Network (GSEN), a decentralised alliance of organizations focused on enabling the space enabler worldwide.