256: Herb Baker
Casual Space
Herb Baker, NASA veteran and author of From Apollo to Artemis: Stories From My 50 Years With NASA, takes us back to a time where growing up near NASA meant working near the “Manned Spacecraft Center,” and running films to the TV station for Apollo missions. Herb took what started as a “fun job” into an unforgettable 42-year career working on the Shuttle, Space Station, and Orion programs. Herb grew up surrounded by astronauts’ families, watched history happen right in his backyard, and even got to see his mom play a key role in saving Skylab—a story that will absolutely...
info_outline
255: Hank Alewine: Crunching Numbers in the Cosmos
Casual Space
Hank Alewine is the accountant boldly going where no CPA has gone before! A professor at the University of Alabama in Huntsville, Hank isn’t just teaching spreadsheets and balance sheets—he’s pioneering space accounting (yes, that’s a thing). In this episode, Hank chats about his career journey, from studying biology to becoming a CPA, and eventually inventing a course that tackles the financial frontier of the space economy. Hank explores fascinating topics like how future Martian colonies might handle taxes (spoiler: someone will definitely try to tax space transactions) and why lag...
info_outline
254: Ronak Dave, NASA Johnson Space Center Flight Director
Casual Space
Ronak Dave is a Flight Director at NASA’s Johnson Space Center who always knew he wanted to work in Human Spaceflight Operations. His journey from a curious engineer to one of NASA’s elite is inspiring. With a Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering from Purdue University, his path to NASA was fueled by curiosity, determination, and a little networking ingenuity. From tinkering with appliances in his childhood home to orchestrating critical missions at NASA, Ronak talks about how each experience brought him to work in the space industry. He shares lessons learned...
info_outline
253: Dr. Eiman Jahangir’s Journey to Space with Blue Origin
Casual Space
Dr. Eiman Jahangir, a physician, analog astronaut, and lifelong space enthusiast, shares his remarkable journey to becoming an astronaut with Blue Origin’s New Shepard. With two previous NASA astronaut candidacies and years of dedication, Dr. Jahangir’s story is resilient. He is driven by a love for science and space and his unwavering commitment to the dream of exploring beyond Earth. Catch Dr. Jahangir as he shares stories from his recent Blue Origin flight and launches into his experiences with the analog astronaut community, where he honed skills vital for long space missions. He’s...
info_outline
252: Anna (Hanna Sav) Harutyunyan: Armenia's First Analog Astronaut and Founder of Rocket Space Academy
Casual Space
Anna (Hanna Sav) Harutyunyan, is an Armenian engineer and robotics student who recently made history as Armenia’s first analog astronaut! In this episode, she joins host Beth Mund on the Casual Space Podcast to share her experiences in analog space missions, her academic journey, and her upcoming projects. Anna’s on a mission to inspire people in Armenia, and around the world, to explore space. As you listen in, you’ll hear how Anna first connected with the analog astronaut community through the Austrian Space Forum, where she supported ground operations before stepping into...
info_outline
251: Samantha Christensen: Opening the Marley Foundation Astronomy Discovery Center at Lowell Observatory
Casual Space
Samantha Christensen, a long-time team member at Lowell Observatory, shares the exciting news about the grand opening of the Marley Foundation Astronomy Discovery Center in Flagstaff, Arizona. As Northern Arizona’s first science center, the 40,000-square-foot facility offers a major upgrade with cutting-edge exhibits, interactive experiences, and an immersive space for astronomy enthusiasts of all ages. Samantha discusses the community’s excitement, especially among educators, and highlights how this new center will serve not only Flagstaff but also underserved communities, including the...
info_outline
250: Corbett Hoenninger, General Manager of Argotec Inc.
Casual Space
Corbett Hoenninger, General Manager of Argotec Inc., has quite the space career. From training astronauts at NASA to helping lead the Dream Chaser’s drop tests (including a memorable crash landing), Corbett shares what it’s really like behind the scenes of space exploration. Corbett talks about the recent NASA DART mission, (giving an asteroid a nudge), and how small satellites are changing the game in space. Corbett started working in the field of psychology, then shifted to aerospace engineering… and combining both to present this great philosophy of being “fearless, but not...
info_outline
249: Chris Quigg: Exploring Grace in All Simplicity
Casual Space
Chris Quigg, the celebrated theoretical physicist and co-author of Grace in All Simplicity, whisks us away on a journey through the wonders of particle physics—served with a dash of poetry and a sprinkle of grace! With a talent for turning complex ideas into accessible stories, Chris shares insights from his new book and reveals the inspiration behind its intriguing title. Listen for unforgettable moments in the history of science and get a sneak peek into life at iconic research centers like CERN and Fermilab. Thank you, Chris, for showing us how curiosity and a love for learning can...
info_outline
248: Scott Holcomb: From Space Camp to the Classroom
Casual Space
Beth welcomes movie star and educator, Scott Holcomb! Scott shares his remarkable story from his surprise audition to his role in the industry CLASSIC film, Space Camp, and how it led him to a meaningful career in education. Through humorous anecdotes and heartfelt reflections, Scott discusses the impact Space Camp (the movie AND the experience) has had on his life and how he’s inspiring the next generation to dream big. Tune in for behind-the-scenes tales from Space Camp, the joy of rekindling childhood wonder, and insights into fostering curiosity in today's students. Scott shares...
info_outline
247: Defending Space Through Storytelling with Stuart Hardwick
Casual Space
Award-winning science fiction author and friend of the show Stuart Hardwick returns to share the story behind his latest work, Tales of the United States Space Force and his passion for space defense and storytelling. Happy WORLD SPACE WEEK! We’re celebrating World Space Week with our partners, Cosmic Girls and their INCREDIBLE Space Competition announcement you DO NOT want to miss: In this episode, Stuart & Beth discuss the critical importance of space defense and how science fiction plays a role in educating the public about the future of space...
info_outlineWhat drives someone to pursue a lifelong career exploring the cosmos?
In this episode of Through These Doors, Chris Key, Josh Whitfield, and Beth Mund sit down with Dr. Jennifer Heldmann, a NASA planetary scientist whose passion for space began at Space Camp and led to a groundbreaking career at NASA.
Jennifer’s journey is nothing short of inspiring. Jennifer's story is a testament to the power of following one's dreams, from her first plane ride to Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama, to earning a PhD in planetary science. In this episode, she recounts her experiences at Space Camp, where she first realized that a career in space wasn’t just a dream but a tangible goal. Jennifer takes us through her exciting work at NASA, including her contributions to Mars exploration and the search for life beyond Earth.
Throughout the conversation, Jennifer reflects on the impact Space Camp had on her life and career, offering valuable advice to young and mid-career professionals on pursuing their passions in the space industry. She also shares her thoughts on the potential discovery of life on Mars and how it could fundamentally change our understanding of the universe.
Whether you're an aspiring astronaut, a space enthusiast, or simply looking for inspiration, this episode will motivate you to reach for the stars.
Follow Us on Social Media:
Instagram: @casualspacepodcast
Facebook: Casual Space Podcast
YouTube: Casual Space Podcast
About:
Dr. Jennifer Heldmann
Dr. Jennifer Heldmann is a Planetary Scientist in the Division of Space Sciences & Astrobiology, Planetary Systems Branch at NASA Ames Research Center. Heldmann studies the Moon with a focus on improving our understanding of lunar volatile deposits as well as focusing on lunar geology. She works on spacecraft missions to study ice on the Moon (e.g., NASA’s LCROSS & VIPER missions) and leads teams analyzing data, creating numerical models, conducting field campaigns, and developing cutting-edge hardware and software tools for future planetary mission applications. Heldmann also supports NASA’s Artemis program by providing scientific input and astronaut training to optimize scientific exploration of the Moon on crewed missions.
Have you attended Space Camp or been inspired by similar stories? We’d love to hear about it!
Share your story with us on social media using:
#CasualSpace and #ThroughTheseDoors.
Interested in Space Camp?
Visit:
https://www.rocketcenter.com/SpaceCamp