As the private space industry races to colonize space for profit, where does NASA fit in to the equation?
Laurie Leshin is just the person to answer that question. She's the Director of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and the first female director in JPL's storied history. To her, NASA's future is defined by its mission — exploring the cosmos for the greate ... Show More
Oct 13
Revisited: Why Relationships Are the Secret to a Long, Happy Life with Psychotherapist Esther Perel
Hello from Team Simon! We’re taking a few weeks off and will be back with brand-new episodes of A Bit of Optimism on Tuesday, October 27. Until then, we’re revisiting some of our favorite conversations, including this one with a longtime friend of Simon’s: Esther Perel. For most ... Show More
1h 2m
Oct 6
Revisited: Your Instincts Know What You Want with Happiness Expert Arthur Brooks
Team Simon here! A Bit of Optimism is on a short break, and brand-new episodes return October 27. Until then, we're revisiting a few conversations we keep coming back to. This week it's Arthur Brooks, a longtime friend of Simon's and one of his favorite people to talk to. Have yo ... Show More
55m 55s
Sep 29
Revisited: The Power of Saying "Screw It" with Rob Lowe
Hello from Team Simon! We're taking a few weeks off and will be back with brand-new episodes of A Bit of Optimism on Tuesday, October 27. Until then, we're revisiting some of our favorite conversations, starting with one of the most fun we've ever had: Rob Lowe. Maybe you know th ... Show More
1h 2m
Jan 2023
Cosmic Queries – The Future of the NASA Jet Propulsion Lab with Laurie Leshin
<p>Could there be life under the icy surface of Europa? Neil deGrasse Tyson and comic Chuck Nice explore interplanetary missions, asteroid mining, and other exciting launches with the Director of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Laurie Leshin.</p><p>NOTE: StarTalk+ Patrons can list ... Show More
49m 52s
Jan 2023
Space Policy Edition: JPL Director wants "every brain" to have the chance to work in space exploration
<p>After the delay of the Psyche mission, an independent review board faulted management and workforce problems at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory as one of the causes. This month we feature the JPL Director, Dr. Laurie Leshin, to discuss what the lab is doing in response to the ... Show More
1h 3m
Jun 2022
Cosmic Queries – NASA v. Billionaires with Lori Garver
<p>Mining on the moon? Owning an asteroid? Neil deGrasse Tyson and comic co-host Chuck Nice answer questions about the private space industry, the role of NASA, and the future of space law with former Deputy Administrator of NASA, Lori Garver. </p><p>NOTE: StarTalk+ Patrons can w ... Show More
47m 39s
Jan 2025
Space Policy Edition: The Challenges of Change at NASA
<p dir="ltr">How does change happen within NASA, and what prevents it? Marcia Smith, founder of Space Policy Online, joins the show to discuss the opportunities and pitfalls faced by incoming presidential administrations and how NASA has—and hasn’t—changed over ... Show More
1h 8m
May 2020
Liz Seward and the dream of spaceflight
Professor Jim Al-Khalili talks to Liz Seward, Senior Space Strategist for Airbus Defence and Space. Liz's young interest in Science Fiction led to a career designing spacecraft and robots for exploring our own earth, other planets, and the stars.From a library in the US where the ... Show More
29m 58s
Dec 2021
Moon missions and space junk
2021 was another year of firsts in the ever-expanding industry around space, as we moved towards space tourism as a reality. But what about NASA, and its plans to return to the moon? We hear all about it, and the space agency’s ambitious plans for not just the moon, but mars; fro ... Show More
17m 28s