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Aspiring Martians

Aspiring Martians
Aspiring Martians
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  • 022- Jonathan Buzan, USA
    This week, I had the pleasure of speaking with Dr. Jonathan Buzan, an atmospheric physicist and planetary habitability researcher whose journey to Mars science started not with a telescope, but with a well-worn copy of SolarQuest which was this epic monopoly style board game where players would travel around the Sun acquiring monopolies of planets, moons, and space structures trying to knock their opponents out of the game through bankruptcy, as well as the occasional laser blast. That early spark led to video games like SimEarth, a fascination with climate extremes, and eventually, a PhD in atmospheric physics and biothermophysics from Purdue University. Since then, he’s held research positions at institutions like the University of New Hampshire, the University of Bern, and now Aalborg University in Denmark, where he works at the intersection of computational physics, sustainability modeling, and planetary systems science.In this episode, we dove into his experience as the GreenHab Officer for Crew 218 at the Mars Desert Research Station, the surprising emotional highs and lows of simulation life, how heat stress and planetary climates shape our understanding of habitability, the scandanavian huddling mindset, controlling for randomness, the importance of redundancy, taking the bad with the good, connections to the past, dehydrated cuisine, the absolute workout of preparing an exquisite Martian beshumel sauce, and why space research still feels like play—even when it’s deadly serious.A huge thank you to Dr. Jonathan Buzan for joining me today and sharing his insight and curiosity, to Nick Thorburn for our stellar theme music, to Ceci Giglio for the beautiful graphics, to RDan, Leila, Inka, and Carl for admining the FB group, and to my family for supporting this adventure—even when the house turns into a sound lab for Martian acoustics.
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  • 021 - Linh Vu, Vietnam
    This week on Aspiring Martians, I sat down with Linh Vu—also known as Quoc Anh—the only Vietnamese finalist among the Mars One program’s top 100. With degrees from the National University of Singapore and Columbia University, Linh blends curiosity, ambition, and a deep desire to explore what lies beyond Earth. Today, he lives in Hanoi and proudly calls himself a Martian-in-waiting.We talk about the realities of pursuing a dream that most people consider impossible. Linh shares how he balances startup life with space dreams, how he’s navigated public perception, and why he's not trying to convince anyone—he’s just focused on doing. From hydroponic vegetables to Vietnamese pride, CV drop-ins to emotional goodbyes, it’s a conversation about bold moves, quiet confidence, and preparing for the long journey ahead.A huge thank you to Linh Vu for joining me today and sharing his thoughtful, daring 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 supporting this mission—even when it wanders into 18th-century star maps.
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  • 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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About Aspiring Martians

Aspiring Martians is the podcast for those captivated by the vision of living on Mars. Each episode unpacks the realities of Martian exploration, blending hard science with the personal stories of those preparing to embark on humanity’s most ambitious journey. From scientists to dreamers, pioneers to future settlers, we bring you the voices shaping what life could be like on Mars. Whether you’re an aspiring Martian yourself or just curious about the journey, join us as we navigate the incredible risks, rewards, and realities of life beyond Earth.
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