Alyssa Carson shares her journey from childhood dreamer to astrobiology PhD, revealing what it really takes to pursue a future on Mars and become part of the next generation of space explorers.

Citizen scientist and astronaut candidate Benedetta Facini joins Aspiring Martians to discuss asteroid hunting, NASA citizen science projects, science communication, and the growing role of everyday people in space exploration.

Engineer, EMT, and analog astronaut Shriya Musuku shares her journey toward Mars and the resilience required to prepare humans for space exploration.

Explore LunAres Research Station in Poland — a leading Moon and Mars analog habitat advancing space medicine, psychology, and human factors research.

Dr. Simon Dubé, world renowned space sexologist, talks all about artificial companions, AI relationships, and the psychology of loneliness in future Mars settlements.

Evolutionary biologist and author Scott Solomon dives into his latest book, Becoming Martian, and explains how living on Mars could reshape the human body, future generations, and the ethics of space settlement.

Thendral Kamal shares how engineering, community, and persistence are shaping her path toward becoming the first Indian woman to set foot on Mars.

We’re launching a new series called Inside the Habitat, exploring analog space simulations around the world! Joined by Jas Purewal, founder of the World’s Biggest Analog, the conversation examines global Mars simulations, analog habitats, crew psychology, and why testing life on Earth is essential before settling Mars.

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 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.