Joe explores Christianity on Mars as the finale of the Religion on Mars series. Joined by Catholic priest and physicist Andrew Pinsent, the conversation examines how Christian belief, Catholic sacraments, priesthood, and religious authority could adapt to life on the Red Planet. 

Reza Aslan joins Joe to discuss how Islam might adapt to life on Mars and explore Islamic history, the Five Pillars of Islam, prayer direction, fasting, authority without a central pope, Islam’s deep relationship with astronomy, and more!

Joined by Dr. Subhash Kak, Joe looks at how Hindu philosophy, cosmology, and spiritual practice could shape daily life, ethics, and meaning for future Martian settlers.

In this episode, Joe speaks with Bhikkhu Vasu Bandhu about Buddhism’s global roots, mindfulness, impermanence, and how Buddhist practice could help future Martians navigate isolation, stress, and life on the Red Planet.

Professor Craig Jackson joins the show to discuss fatigue, isolation, Antarctic research base incidents, psychological screening, and what future Mars missions can learn from how humans cope under pressure.

Lina Borozdina joins Aspiring Martians for a powerful conversation about spaceflight, resilience, and representation.

Aerospace Engineering Professor Dr. Kshitij Mall joins Aspiring Martians to discuss advanced propulsion research, Mission ShakthiSAT, and how low-cost lunar architectures can open space exploration to students, universities, and emerging space nations.

Dr. Adriana Marais — theoretical physicist, astrobiologist, and leader of Africa’s first mission to the lunar south pole — joins Aspiring Martians to discuss off-world living, quantum biology, the origins of life, and how extreme places on Earth are preparing us for the Moon, Mars, and beyond.

Keisha Schahaff, the first Caribbean woman in space and one half of the first mother-daughter astronaut duo, shares how her Virgin Galactic spaceflight transformed her life, deepened her connection to Earth, and strengthened her dream of one day living on Mars.

Researcher and author Kelly Weinersmith — co-author of A City on Mars — speaks about the government models that could shape early Martian settlements and which political systems, historical lessons, and legal challenges exist for building a functioning society off-world.

Dr. Shawna Pandya shares how curiosity, compassion, and courage guide her journey from emergency medicine to aquanaut missions to preparing for spaceflight.

Sahda Haroon is a space advocate and STEAM educator whose passion for representation and empowerment is lighting a path for future explorers.

At just 17 years old, Ilia-Daniel Gashinbaki — Nigeria’s youngest Space Ambassador and Executive Director of the Africa Space Foundation — is reshaping how Africa engages with the final frontier.

Nutrition scientist Dr. Flávia Fayet-Moore dives into what astronauts actually eat, how microgravity changes appetite, and why future Martian meals will feed both body and soul.

NASA’s CHAPEA 2 crew members Matthew Montgomery and James Spicer share what inspired them to sign up for a year-long Mars simulation and what it is that will keep them going.

Explorer Dianne McGrath—sailor, sustainability expert, and Mars One finalist—reveals how the Outback and the open ocean prepared her for the quiet vastness of space.

Biomedical engineer Alejandro Perez shares how curiosity, mentorship, and a dash of chaos led him from diesel tanks to designing agricultural robotics for the Red Planet.

Microbiologist Dr. Jamie Foster explores the surprising history of animals in space—and what future Martian settlers might learn from goldfish, tortoises, and friendship itself.

Former Space for Humanity director Rachel Lyons shares how humility, self-care, and courage shape the leaders who will one day guide humanity beyond Earth.

Ukrainian aerospace engineer Sergii Iakymov—director of MDRS—shares lessons from leading analog crews in Utah and what they teach us about global unity and human endurance.