Space Spiels

Paige talks with Austin, a rocket propulsion engineer and founder of Half Cat Rocketry. Austin explains his passion for propulsion and tells the story of Half Cat’s silly name. He elaborates on his experience as a Master’s student and as an engineer at various start-ups, highlighting the connections he has made. This is a great listen!!  connect with Austin! share space spiels!!

From starting in the warehouse at Transair Flight Equipment at 18 to becoming its Marketing Director and a dual-license pilot, Katherine Moloney embodies the diverse paths and destinations within the aerospace industry. In this episode, we discuss how a chance helicopter trial lesson at Brighton City Airport sparked her passion for flight, leading to her PPL(H) at just 19 and her PPL(A) four years...

In this episode of Space Spiels, Paige talks with Emily Carney—writer, podcaster, and author of the new book Star Bound . Emily shares her journey from serving as a nuclear operator in the Navy to earning a degree in education at St. Petersburg College, eventually becoming a leading voice in space history. We explore her creative process, including how she turns technical history into compelling s...

In this episode, Paige sits down with Maddie Burkey, a recent Georgia Tech grad and fluid mechanics expert. Maddie speaks about her college experience, Co-Op program, and cutting-edge research. She shares the origin of her fascination with aerodynamics and her experience carving out her specialized path. Maddie demystifies what consulting in the aerospace industry really entails, and she offers ca...

Today, Paige talks with Kara Gaiser, 3rd year Mechanical Engineering student at UC Berkeley, previous JPL Intern, and VAST Space ECLSS Intern. Kara discusses why she enjoys Environmental Control specifically and what it was like to land a coveted NASA JPL internship after her first year in college. She discusses how to balance school and internships, and why it’s (maybe??) worth it. Kara also give...

In this insightful episode, Paige sits down with Holly Pascal—NASA systems engineer, author, and founder of the Women’s Aerospace Network. Holly shares her journey from dreaming big in college to crafting strategies that landed her at NASA. Learn how she pivoted from software to systems engineering, overcame challenges, and launched an organization empowering women in aerospace. This conversation...

On this episode, Paige talks with Ben Kim, a senior undergraduate at Princeton. They discuss getting into Princeton and his internship experiences. They also dive into topics such as “we are all just people,” doing things outside of engineering, and authenticity. With a philosophical ending, this episode is a great listen. Connect with Ben!!

In today’s episode, Paige talks with Derek Hassmann: former NASA Flight Director and Vice President of Mission Operations at VAST Space. Paige dreams of becoming a NASA Flight Director, so she takes this opportunity to ask all her burning questions. Derek discusses how he ended up at NASA and his experience during his earlier years. He then discusses the Flight Director selection and training proc...

Today’s episode features Dr. Lorena Duran, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with a doctorate in educational leadership. Paige finally asks all of her burning mental health questions: How do you not place your worth in productivity? What are your biggest tips regarding imposter syndrome? How do you find the balance between pushing yourself to do hard things and grow while also not neglecting menta...

I got my dream job. When people ask what got me into space I recall this story: At a young age, I remember looking up at the TV and seeing a room of people crying, high-fiving, and hugging. These employees had just sent a rocket to space. I knew that I wanted to be in that room one day and get giddy when I think about it. This goal is the drive behind my career. This summer, I will get the chance...

Today Paige talks with Dana Levin, a Flight Surgeon at VAST Space. Dana discusses why he became a doctor and how he ended up in aerospace specifically. He talks about career shifts and finishes by answering Paige’s burning question about humans traveling to Mars. This is a great, slightly chaotic, listen.

On today’s episode, Paige speaks with Roderic Vanderscoff, Launch Vehicle Architecture Engineer at PLD Space in Spain. They discuss creating opportunities for oneself, risk associated with startups, and leaving the country! Towards the end, Roderic speaks about the benefits of not fearing failure. Enjoy this week’s episode!! Roderic's LinkedIn

To Paige's surprise, Curtis Lee pulled out his phone while being interviewed, turned the table, and asked Paige some great questions. We talk about her favorite things: life balance, imposter syndrome, and her summer internship experience at Vast Space. In this beautifully chaotic interview, Paige gets vulnerable while also answering silly questions: what's with the sloths? Enjoy this list...

Paige kicks off season 2 by interviewing one of her mentors at Vast Space, Curtis Lee. With over 5 years of experience as a Mechanical Engineer, Curtis is candid about his first full time job and how he ended up in aerospace by circumstance. He describes his first position at an aerospace company: he was the youngest engineer at a small startup. Curtis elaborates on the importance of mentorship an...

In today's brief episode, Paige explains how rewarding her podcast hosting experience has been this past year. She describes her plans for the summer and reminds you to leave reviews!!

This week, Paige speaks with Danielle Marsh, a Spacecraft Systems engineer at NASA’s JPL. They discuss Danielle’s education experience along with how she made big decisions early on in her career. She discusses the similarities between Johns Hopkins APL and NASA’s JPL along with why she loves her job. This is an amazing listen!

Paige sits down with John Humphreys, a 16 year-old aspiring astronaut. John recently returned from a scientific diving expedition to Antarctica. He debriefs his trip with Paige, sharing the most rewarding and challenging parts of the trip. John also talks about his recent first solo flight in an aircraft, along with his ambitious future aspirations. This episode is a must-listen! Support John’s Go...

An astronomer from Serbia, Dr. Vera Gluscevic, tells her story on today's episode. She elaborates on how to persevere through failure and tells the same stories she uses to keep her own students motivated. Dr Gluscevic speaks about balancing her education while also being a mom, and how her life priorities affected big decisions.

On this episode, Paige talks with submariner Maya Solis. The Naval Academy graduate explains what operating a nuclear reactor entails, along with how it relates to space and satellites. Maya discusses the current arms race in space and what her future path entails. Enjoy this episode with my good friend Maya!

Today's episode is a life update! Paige shares what she is up to, including scoring an internship and getting into grad school. She also talks about her experience scuba diving and skydiving, and shares why she seeks to push herself out of her comfort zone. Wrapping up with a discussion about life balance, this episode is a great listen!

Paige talks with Dana Kirchmar, a coach for women in aerospace. With an electrical engineering background, Dana dives into how she got into aerospace and her experience working on the Space Shuttle. She describes what it has been like working as a woman in aerospace and what she strives for through her coaching. Dana gives tips to women in aerospace and how other people can best support them. This...

BONUS EPISODE ALERT! Every wonder what it's like to study Aerospace Engineering as an Italian? Today is your lucky day! Paige sits down with Arianna Pascale, who has studied in Australia, Italy, and Spain. She is currently a Flight Simulator Engineer at Airbus and Master's student. Hear more about her experience by clicking play!

On this episode, Paige sits down with Patrick Cates--the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Programs and Adjunct Faculty at USC's Marshall School of Business--who describes psychological safety. He gives aerospace related examples in which psychological safety could have improved work environments and saved lives. Learn how to apply it to your own teams today by clicking play! Air France Article...

Today, Paige sits down with the EVP of Products at Ursa Major: Bill Murray. Bill elaborates on his educational and professional experience: What is it like to witness a hotfire of a 50,000 lbf engine? How did he find the courage to help start a company? Does college experience actually translate to industry? Find out the answer to these questions by clicking play!

Paige sits down with Cadet First Class Anton Dahm. Anton is finishing up his fourth year at the Air Force Academy after which he will be commissioning as an officer into the Space Force. Paige and Anton talk about what led to his decision to attend the Academy along with how he was selected to join the Space Force, specifically. Anton describes his involvement at school, including a space educatio...