Aspiring Martians

• 020 - Saeed Ghandhari, Iran/New Zealand

  This week on Aspiring Martians, I’m joined by Dr. Saeed Ghandhari, a former Mars One 100 finalist, community builder, refugee advocate, martial artist, and aspiring astronaut originally from Iran and now based in Auckland, New Zealand. Saeed’s journey is a remarkable blend of public service and personal ambition—he’s worked for over a decade in Iran’s parliament, helped countless migrants and Māori navigate life in New Zealand, and holds a PhD in International Relations. Not one to slow down, he recently applied for a six-year medical science degree—because... why not?In this conversation, we explore what it means to never give up on your dream, even when the path takes unexpected detours. We talk about the value of being unpredictable, his paper on black holes, waiting on Roscosmos, and building hope through Mars One. Also: team dynamics, asteroid indecision, dinosaur contingency plans, space soldiers, Martian toilet innovation, and the importance of keeping a packed Mars bag—just in case.A huge thank you to Dr. Saeed Ghandhari for joining me today and sharing his powerful story and perspective, to Nick Thorburn for our stellar theme music, to Ceci Giglio for the beautiful graphics, to RDan, Leila, Inka, and Carl for admining the Facebook group, and to my family for always supporting this journey—even when it detours into orbital trivia.

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• The Right Martian Stuff with Dr. Robert Zubrin

  In this month’s Everyday Mars episode, I sat down with one of the most influential voices in Mars advocacy—Dr. Robert Zubrin, founder of The Mars Society and author of The Case for Mars, The Case for Space, and The New World on Mars. For decades, Zubrin has been championing the idea that humans not only can go to Mars, but should. And in this conversation, we ask a simple but profound question: What is The Right Martian Stuff?We dig into the character traits, skill sets, and cultural mindsets he believes the first Martian settlers will need—not just to survive, but to thrive. Spoiler: it’s less about military order and more about maverick spirit, humor under pressure, and a healthy dose of DIY ingenuity. We also talk about what kind of society might grow out of that environment—and what lessons Earth might learn in return.Thank you to Dr. Zubrin for making the time for this chat and for his expertise, to Nick Thorburn for the theme music, to Ceci Giglio for the graphics, to RDan, Leila, Inka, and Carl for admining the Facebook group, and to my family for supporting all of this.

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• 019 - Sharife Gacel, USA

  In this episode of Aspiring Martians, I’m joined by Sharife Gacel, a licensed therapist, analog astronaut, NASA/JPL Solar System Ambassador, and the creator of The Space Therapist and the Blue Marble Project. Sharife’s work brings together psychology, art, and space exploration to help people build emotional resilience here on Earth—and someday, on Mars. She believes that the perspective shift astronauts feel when seeing Earth from space can be a healing force, and she’s spent years helping others connect to that feeling through outreach, therapy, and awe-driven storytelling.We talk about the emotional challenges of space travel, what representation looks like in the space world, and how something as simple as looking through a telescope can rewire your whole sense of purpose. We also cover her underwater origin stories, the wonders of astronomy clubs, exploration genes, spacesuit cardboard cutouts, Martian domes in Hawaii, representing by showing up, and finding motivation through the lens of a telescope.

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• 018 - Bill Bell, USA

  This week, I talk with Bill Bell, a high school Earth and Space Science teacher from Payden City, West Virginia, who grew up pretending his dad’s orange hunting vest was an astronaut suit. Decades later, he found himself as a finalist in the AXE Apollo Space Academy, training alongside over 100 other aspiring astronauts from around the globe, hoping to earn a suborbital flight to space. We talk about that once-in-a-lifetime experience, and how it shaped not just his career, but the way he teaches and inspires the next generation of explorers.We also dive into the messy middle of chasing big dreams—college setbacks, Navy rejections, and finding your calling in the classroom instead of the cockpit. Bill’s story is one of resilience, curiosity, and the quiet courage it takes to keep dreaming even when the world tries to hand you a smaller one.A heartfelt thank you to Bill Bell for joining me and sharing his story, to Nick Thorburn for our stellar theme music, to Ceci Giglio for the beautiful graphics, to RDan, Leila, Inka, and Carl for admining the Facebook group, and to my family for always supporting this Martian journey—even when it becomes a full-time mission control in our house.This episode is dedicated to Bill's father, Vincent. To infinity and beyond.

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• 017 - Stephan Günther, Germany

  What happens when a childhood dream refuses to fade? For Stephan Günther, it meant spending a lifetime turning that dream into motion. From growing up in 1970s Germany with a deep fascination for space, to becoming an airline captain and 3D simulation developer, Stephan has built both a career and a company—Space Dream Studio—around his vision of one day stepping foot on Mars. He was a candidate for the Mars One program, and today he continues to develop space-related simulations, tools, and experiences for others who dare to imagine interplanetary life.In this episode, we talk about what it really means to commit to something as massive as moving to another planet. Stephan opens up about the emotional complexity of applying for a one-way trip, including the moment he told his first wife about his plans. We also dive into his thoughts on why Mars is pivotal to proving we're not alone, the importance of honesty when chasing impossible goals, and why—even after all this time—he still believes his journey to space isn’t over.A huge thank you to Stephan Günther for sharing his story today, to Nick Thorburn for our unforgettable theme music, to Ceci Giglio for the brilliant graphics, to RDan, Leila, Inka, and Carl for admining the Facebook group, and to my family for always encouraging my Mars obsession—even when it means geeking out over vintage color by number art from space.

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