Alyssa Carson, USA

This week, Joe is joined by the ULTIMATE aspiring Martian…Alyssa Carson: Science communicator, astrobiologist, and one of the most recognizable voices of the so-called “Mars Generation.” You may know her as “Blueberry,” the kid who decided at just three years old that she wanted to go to Mars—and then actually kept going.

But this conversation isn’t about a childhood dream. It’s about what happens after the dream sticks.

We talk about what it really takes to stay committed to something as distant—and as uncertain—as Mars, how that path evolves over time, and why becoming an astronaut isn’t about a single job, but a collection of skills, experiences, and relentless curiosity. Alyssa shares how she found her way into astrobiology, what she’s studying now in her PhD, and how her work is helping answer one of the biggest questions we have: could life exist beyond Earth?

We also get into the reality behind the headlines—what the public gets wrong about space, how safety and risk are actually approached, the importance of community and support systems, and why the future of space might look a lot more connected to everyday life than we think.

Because becoming Martian isn’t about one giant leap.

It’s about thousands of small, deliberate steps.

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