Best Payload Space Podcasts (2025)

1
Engineered for Impact, with Christian Garcia (Partner at Breakthrough Energy Ventures) 57:23

1d ago57:23

57:23

This week on Valley of Depth, we’re joined by Christian Garcia, Partner at Breakthrough Energy Ventures — the Bill Gates-backed climate fund investing in bold technologies to accelerate the energy transition across every sector of the economy. With portfolio companies tackling everything from geologic hydrogen to reusable rockets, BEV is redefining…

1
Ep. 754: K2-18b 32:51

3d ago32:51

32:51

Astronomy Cast Ep. 754: K2-18b By Fraser Cain & Dr. Pamela Gay Streamed live on Apr 28, 2025. You’ve heard the news! Astronomers are reporting the discovery of biosignatures at K2-18b. Is this proof of life or should we all be more skeptical? It's in the news and people are claiming aliens... but is it aliens? Let's see what the data actually says.…

1
Breakthrough Orbital Platforms, with Tejpaul Bhatia (CEO of Axiom Space) 1:09:33

9d ago1:09:33

1:09:33

This week on Valley of Depth, we’re joined by Tejpaul Bhatia, the newly appointed CEO of Axiom Space — a company building one of the first commercial space stations and leading private human spaceflight missions to low Earth orbit. The company is gearing up for Ax-4, Axiom’s fourth mission to the ISS, which will fly astronauts from Poland, Hungary,…

1
205 - 5G-Enabled Convergence, Competition and Cooperation 28:50

10d ago28:50

28:50

5G technology holds the promise of the seamless integration of satellite and telco networks – a critical development as the demand for global connectivity grows. Listen to a panel of experts discuss the convergence of satellite and telecommunications infrastructure from both a technology and a business case perspective.…

1
Ep. 753: Why is the Moon's South Pole So Interesting? 35:33

11d ago35:33

35:33

Astronomy Cast Ep. 753: Why is the Moon's South Pole So Interesting? By Fraser Cain & Dr. Pamela Gay Streamed live on Apr 21, 2025. I’m sure you’ve heard that all eyes are on the Moon’s southern pole. This is where various NASA and Chinese missions are targeting. What makes this region so special and what are the special challenges that explorers w…

1
Hypersonic Power Play, with Bryon Hargis (CEO of Castelion) 56:14

16d ago56:14

56:14

We’re excited to launch Valley of Depth, our new podcast taking the place of our beloved (formerly known as) Pathfinder (RIP) podcast. Valley of Depth is about the technologies that matter—and the people building them. We talk to founders, investors, government officials, and military leaders shaping the future of national security and deep tech. F…

1
Ep. 752: Should We Go to the Moon or Mars Next? 36:33

18d ago36:33

36:33

Astronomy Cast Ep. 752: Should We Go to the Moon or Mars Next? By Fraser Cain & Dr. Pamela Gay Streamed live on Apr 16, 2025. Hosted by: Fraser Cain and Dr. Pamela L. Gay There is an ongoing debate on where NASA should go next with humans: to the Moon or Mars. (Or maybe an asteroid or one of Mars’ moons). We are on the verge of sending humans back …

1
204 - Mega-Constellations, Gaining Competitive Advantage and Software-Ground 15:43

24d ago15:43

15:43

Mega-constellations like Starlink are reshaping the satellite industry—and traditional operators are looking to gain competitive advantage. In this episode, Lluc Palerm, Research Director at Analysys Mason, shares key insights from a recent white paper on how software-ground systems can help legacy players compete. He will discuss what strategies c…

1
PEGS Young Scientist Keynote Jessica Stark on the Role of Glycans in Cancer Research 28:38

25d ago28:38

28:38

In this episode of The Chain, host Brandon DeKosky, associate professor, speaks with MIT colleague Jessica Stark, Underwood-Prescott career development professor, about glycans and why they are important in cancer research. Stark discusses how she became interested in immunology, what her PhD and post-doctoral training was like, her thoughts on sin…

1
Ep. 751: Vacuum Energy 33:33

25d ago33:33

33:33

Astronomy Cast Ep. 751: Vacuum Energy By Fraser Cain & Dr. Pamela Gay Streamed live on Apr 7, 2025. Hosted by: Fraser Cain and Dr. Pamela L. Gay. Even empty space isn’t empty. It’s filled with the quantum fluctuations of spacetime itself. Which can be measured with famous experiments like the Casimir Effect. There is a surprising amount of energy i…

1
Ep. 750: Supernova Early Warning System 26:34

1M ago26:34

26:34

Astronomy Cast Ep. 750: Supernova Early Warning System By Fraser Cain & Dr. Pamela Gay Streamed live on Mar 31, 2025. Hosted by: Fraser Cain and Dr. Pamela L. Gay When enormous stars detonate as supernovae they release a burst of neutrinos that can be the first sign of a coming explosion. Now, astronomers have built a network to watch for that flas…

1
203 - Innovative Commercial Solutions, Expanding CASR and Accelerating Space Readiness 28:23

1M ago28:23

28:23

In this episode, Colonel Richard Kniseley from the Space Systems Command's Commercial Space Office (COMSO) delves into the U.S. military’s strategy for incorporating commercial space capabilities to strengthen national defense. Col. Kniseley outlines the "buy before build" approach, discusses the benefits of commercial services like satellite commu…

1
Ep. 749: Dark Energy Changing Over Time 32:07

1M ago32:07

32:07

Astronomy Cast Ep. 749: Dark Energy Changing Over Time By Fraser Cain & Dr. Pamela Gay Streamed live on Mar 24, 2025. The Hubble Tension is a vexing problem, with astronomers measuring the expansion of the Universe at different points in its history and getting different results. Errors have mostly been ruled out, which leaves the potential for new…

1
Ep. 748: Fast Radio Bursts 28:06

2M ago28:06

28:06

Astronomy Cast Ep. 748: Fast Radio Bursts By Fraser Cain & Dr. Pamela Gay Streamed live on Mar 17, 2025. For the briefest of moments, some dead stars can flash brighter than their entire galaxy (in Radio light) and then live to do it again and again. It’s time for an update on fast radio bursts, a phenomenon we’ve only known about for a few decades…

1
202 - Flexible Payloads, Orchestrated Ground and Service on Demand 28:01

2M ago28:01

28:01

Industry leaders dive deep into the revolutionary potential of software-defined satellites and how these satellites are transforming the way operators can dynamically adjust capacity and coverage in orbit to meet customer demand, opening doors to new revenue streams and innovative services. Hear from experts on how a more dynamic ground system play…

1
Ep. 747: Rogue Planets 29:06

2M ago29:06

29:06

Streamed live on Mar 10, 2025. Hosted by: Fraser Cain and Dr. Pamela L. Gay Most planets orbit stars. That’s the rule, right? Well, maybe not. In fact the vast majority of planets could be floating freely through the Milky Way. Today we’re gonna talk about rogue planets. Sometimes planets just go rogue. Let's learn about planets living free from st…

1
Episode: 70 - Views on Machine Learning and AI in the Antibody and Protein Engineering Space 49:36

2M ago49:36

49:36

March 11, 2025 | In this episode of The Chain, host Andrew Buchanan, principal scientist at AstraZeneca, and Andreas Plückthun, professor and head of biochemistry at the University of Zurich, discuss AI/ML technologies in the antibody and protein engineering space. Plückthun shares his perspectives on what technologies show promise and success, why…

1
Hosted Payload S2.E3: Wiley on Space Cowboys 23:24

2M ago23:24

23:24

Hosted Payload is now available in both video and podcast form! Host Henry Gola thinks Space Cowboys is Clint Eastwood’s worst movie, but he meets surprising disagreement from colleagues Jen Hindin, Chloe Hawker, and Jillian Quigley. Plus, Chloe does double duty and dishes the latest satellite and space news in the Orbital Debrief.…

1
201 - GPS, LEO and the Speed of Decision 15:22

2M ago15:22

15:22

On the Constellations Podcast, the overall importance of GPS by commercial and military will be discussed. Hear from Ian Canning, President and CEO of the Eutelsat America Corporation and OneWeb Technologies Inc. (EACOWT) as he discusses reasons and strategies to support position, navigation and timing. He will also describe the capabilities of ope…

1
Ep. 746: Dust Storms 28:25

2M ago28:25

28:25

Astronomy Cast Ep. 746: Dust Storms By Fraser Cain & Dr. Pamela Gay Streamed live Feb 24, 2025. We have dust storms on Earth and of course the famous dust storms on Mars. There are even dust storms on Titan. What causes these storms and how do they work differently on the worlds in the solar system. But what about the exoplanets? The bane of solar …

1
Ep. 745: How We Know If Asteroids Will Attack 30:00

2M ago30:00

30:00

Astronomy Cast Ep. 745: How We Know If Asteroids Will Attack By Fraser Cain & Dr. Pamela Gay Streamed live Feb 20, 2025. I’m sure you’ve heard the news, asteroid 2024 YR4 has a tiny chance of hitting Earth in 2032. How do astronomers discover these dangerous asteroids, measure their future impact risk and track the changes over time? When should we…

1
Episode: 69 - Conversation with Sir Greg Winter on the 50th Anniversary of the Milstein and Köhler Paper 50:36

3M ago50:36

50:36

February 21, 2025 | This episode marks the 50th anniversary of one of the most influential papers in biomedical science—the 1975 Milstein and Köhler paper on hybridoma technology, which paved the way for monoclonal antibodies. Ralph Minter, Biotech CSO/CTO, discusses this important milestone with a true pioneer in the field, Sir Greg Winter, Nobel …

1
200 - Standards, Spectrum and Seamless Connectivity for D2D Services 27:47

3M ago27:47

27:47

Direct-to-Device satellite connectivity is being touted as a way to bridge terrestrial connectivity gaps, and the past year has seen major developments in the D2D space. Jacques Leduc, CEO of Terrestar Solutions and a founding member of the Mobile Satellite Services Association discusses how 3GPP 5G standards, access to spectrum and partnerships wi…

1
Beyond the Brief, with Ed Fyfe (Founder of Ed Fyfe Design) 57:43

3M ago57:43

57:43

This week on Pathfinder, we’re joined by Ed Fyfe, founder of Ed Fyfe Design, a creative studio focused on branding and visual identity for space and hardware companies. With a background in agency work and a passion for the space industry, Ed has built a reputation for helping companies craft compelling brand identities that stand out in a crowded …

1
Ep. 744: Lunar Time 31:29

3M ago31:29

31:29

Astronomy Cast Ep. 744: Lunar Time By Fraser Cain & Dr. Pamela Gay Streamed live on Feb 10, 2025. What time is it? OK, fine, what time is it on the Moon? The Moon orbits the Earth, so it doesn’t fall into a specific time zone. Also, there’s lower gravity on the surface of the Moon, which changes the rate that clocks tick. Well… It’s time to introdu…

1
Inside SpaceX's Revenue, with Jack Kuhr (Research Director at Payload) 43:22

3M ago43:22

43:22

This week on Pathfinder, we’re joined by Jack Kuhr, Research Director at Payload, for a deep dive into one of the most closely watched companies in the space industry—SpaceX. We break down Payload’s latest analysis of SpaceX’s revenue, exploring how the company’s launch business and Starlink network are shaping its financial trajectory. With our es…

1
199 - Software-Defined Satellites, Follow-Me Beams and Always-On Customer Connectivity 23:24

3M ago23:24

23:24

The satellite industry is transforming with software-defined networking, unlocking global connectivity anywhere, anytime. Software-defined satellites, which can shift capacity on-demand, are key to this change, enabling flexible business models to meet evolving needs. Carmel Ortiz, Senior VP of Technology and Innovation at Intelsat, joins us to d…

1
Space to Grow, with Matt Weinzierl and Brendan Rosseau 1:02:32

3M ago1:02:32

1:02:32

This week on Pathfinder, we’re joined by Matt Weinzierl, Chair of the MBA Program and Professor at Harvard Business School, and Brendan Rosseau, a member of the strategy team for launch at Blue Origin. Together, they’ve co-authored Space to Grow: Unlocking the Final Economic Frontier, a new book exploring the history, key players, and economic forc…

1
Subsurface Vision, with Jeremiah Pate (CEO of Lunasonde) 43:37

3M ago43:37

43:37

This week on Pathfinder, we’re joined by Jeremiah Pate, founder and CEO of Lunasonde, a company pioneering subsurface imaging from space. Lunasonde is developing technology to map the Earth’s underground, leveraging low-frequency synthetic aperture radar (SAR) to identify critical minerals and resources. With two satellites launched and the first f…

1
Ep. 741: Technosignatures 36:03

3M ago36:03

36:03

Astronomy Cast Ep. 741: Technosignatures By Fraser Cain & Dr. Pamela Gay Streamed live on Jan 20, 2025. As humanity developed more advanced technology, we’re having a larger effect on our environment. The more we do, the more we could be detectable. And this gives us ideas on how we could detect other civilizations, even if they don’t realize we’re…

1
198 - Micro Satellites, Big Disruptors and the Trajectory of the Space Race 25:07

4M ago25:07

25:07

In a disrupted industry, new innovations and unique ways of thinking are more important than ever. In this podcast, hear from John Gedmark – CEO and Co-Founder at Astranis Space Technologies – about his knowledge on changing small GEO satellite technology, new military applications, and the shift toward scaled GEO deployments.…

1
Spectral Revolution, with Awais Ahmed (CEO of Pixxel) 54:10

4M ago54:10

54:10

This week on Pathfinder, we’re joined by Awais Ahmed, founder and CEO of Pixxel, a company focused on developing hyperspectral imaging technology from space. Pixxel is developing the world’s first commercial hyperspectral satellite constellation, aiming to provide detailed insights into critical industries like agriculture, energy, and defense. Wit…

1
Ep. 740: Sneaky Stars! 30:12

4M ago30:12

30:12

Astronomy Cast Ep. 740: Sneaky Stars! By Fraser Cain & Dr. Pamela Gay Streamed live on Jan 13, 2025. Why stars can’t be trusted! If you’re an astronomer you depend on accurate observations of stars, but there’s a problem. Stars are sneaky! Changing in size, brightness, color, they hide their chemistry, their age and even their companions from all b…

1
New Year, New Restrictions? Sara and Josh Talk About Drone Security 15:05

4M ago15:05

15:05

In this episode of Sara and Josh Talk About Drones, Sara and Josh talk about several recent legislative and regulatory developments related to drones, and more specifically, drone security. Topics include drone-related provisions (Sections 162 and 1709) in the FY25 NDAA, the Department of Commerce’s open rulemaking proceeding on safeguarding the UA…

1
First Check, with Adam Draper (Founder of Boost VC) 57:48

4M ago57:48

57:48

This week on Pathfinder, we welcome Adam Draper, founder and managing director of Boost VC, an early-stage venture capital firm based in San Mateo, CA, specializing in pre-seed deals in deep tech, including space. Boost VC’s track record includes early investments in space companies such as Varda, Starfish Space, and K2 Space. This episode explores…

1
Ep. 739: Drones! 31:51

4M ago31:51

31:51

Astronomy Cast Ep. 740: Drones! By Fraser Cain & Dr. Pamela Gay Streamed live January 9, 2025. From little Ingenuity to the future Firefly and all our Earth Science fliers, let's look at the buzzy scientists. NASA’s Mars Ingenuity helicopter showed us how wonderful a flying science platform can be on another world. Soon there’ll be a helicopter fly…

1
197 - Interoperability, Cloud Services and Satellite-Enabled Network Resilience 18:49

4M ago18:49

18:49

Communications networks underpin the services and applications that are critical to consumer well-being and business growth, which has amplified the impact of network outages. In this episode, Sergy Mummert, SVP, Sales Global Cloud & Strategic Partnerships at SES Networks, joins us to discuss how advances in satellite technology are enabling a more…

1
Mach 1, Dawn Rises, with Stefan Powell (CEO of Dawn Aerospace) 1:00:50

4M ago1:00:50

1:00:50

This week on Pathfinder, we’re ready to kick off 2025 with our first episode back from a brief holiday hiatus. Joining us is Stefan Powell, co-founder and CEO of Dawn Aerospace—a company focused on building scalable, sustainable space transportation solutions. After cutting their teeth with an in-space propulsion business, Dawn is now pushing the b…

1
Sara and Josh Talk About the Mystery Drones Over New Jersey 22:21

4M ago22:21

22:21

After a hiatus, Sara Baxenberg and Josh Turner are back with a new episode of Sara and Josh Talk About Drones. In this episode, Sara and Josh talk about the recent wave of reported sightings of mysterious aircrafts over New Jersey and in other places beginning in December 2024. They discuss the likely explanations for the sightings, the FAA’s respo…

1
196 - The Rise of HAPS, Competition for LEOs and Promise of Connectivity Everywhere 18:39

5M ago18:39

18:39

While LEOs may be receiving most of the attention, an emerging technology is rising to the stratosphere in the form of High Altitude Platform Stations (HAPS). HAPS have the potential to unlock the Earth's stratosphere and enhance global connectivity, offering significant opportunities across various industries, including telecommunications, high-re…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Payload Space Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen