Episodes

  • Shmooze with Mike Simmons: Big Impact Astronomy

    Shmooze with Mike Simmons: Big Impact Astronomy
    Aug 30 2024
    This page includes, Summary, Questions Asked, Main Points, Timeline, and Trasncript. Scroll down to find what you seek. Episode Summary Stargazing meets social change in this eye-opening episode! Mike Simmons, founder of Astronomers 4 Equity and creator of the upcoming “Big Impact Astronomy” podcast, takes us on a celestial journey from Iran to Ukraine. Discover how looking up at the stars can change lives down here on Earth: Explore the changing face of astronomy: Learn about astronomy as a powerful educational tool: Peek into the future of cosmic outreach: Throughout this conversation, one thing […]
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    46 mins
  • Shmooze with Deana Weibel: Anthropology of Religion in Space & The Ultraview Effect

    Shmooze with Deana Weibel: Anthropology of Religion in Space & The Ultraview Effect
    Jun 4 2024
    In this fascinating episode of Space Midrash, host Jacob Sager sits down with Deana Weibel, a distinguished professor and anthropologist of religion. They explore the intersection of faith, anthropology, and human spaceflight. ✨ Deana shares her unique insights on how religion adapts to the challenges and opportunities of space exploration, revealing the unexpected item she would bring to space. This conversation delves into the ethical questions of space travel, the transformative experiences of astronauts, and the future of religious practices in off-world societies.
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    50 mins
  • Shmooze with WeSpace & Guests: Artful Risks and Lunar Legacies

    Shmooze with WeSpace & Guests: Artful Risks and Lunar Legacies
    May 20 2024
    Join Jacob Sager on "Space Midrash" with guests Yifat Feffer, Dr. Kathy Laurini, Professor Dan Blumberg, and Yigal Harel as they discuss WeSpace Technologies' lunar hoppers, the evolving space economy, and the future of lunar missions. This episode explores the intersection of art and space, the potential of cislunar economies, and the ethical implications of space exploration. Tune in for insights on international collaboration and the visionary projects shaping the future of space exploration.
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    51 mins
  • Shmooze with Inara Tabir: Space Exploration and Pro-Human Endeavor

    Shmooze with Inara Tabir: Space Exploration and Pro-Human Endeavor
    May 6 2024
    Honored to have had Inara on this episode because she is authentic and has a pro-human , pro-future perspective which has come to blend heritage, entertainment, and industry into real communities, projects, and happenings in our current moment of the space age. I know Inara from the Overview Roundtable where she welcomes lots of brilliant other folks into the community, highlighting and connecting us all. Our conversation together on Space Midrash delightfully explores many ideas from the words we use to describe the space age to the words we use when interacting with AI. We discuss futurism and how not to other enduring cultural heritages when trying to bring us all forward into something greater. She brings in some rabinnic wisdom spun into great advice to all of us wanting to get in on space communities and industry but are plagued by imposter syndrome. In Space Midrash fashion, I close by asking Inara what she’d bring to space, her two-fold answer is an inclusive and exciting future that she is leading. It’s the kind of space age leadership we value on Space Midrash. The conversation was as deep as it was wide and will hopefully be the first of many.
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    1 hr and 5 mins
  • Shmooze with Keisha Schahaff: Seeing Earth and Space with Family and Meaning

    Shmooze with Keisha Schahaff: Seeing Earth and Space with Family and Meaning
    Apr 19 2024
    Keisha Shahaf, an astronaut who went to space last year, shares her perspective on the meaning of space and the impact it has had on her life. She sees space as a part of exploration and self-discovery, a place of peace and connection. Her experience in space has deepened her appreciation and understanding of the human body and the work she does as an energy and self-development wellness coach. Keisha won a lottery to go to space and brought her daughter with her, strengthening their bond and inspiring her daughter's studies into astrobiology. The experience of seeing Earth from space has shifted Keisha's spirituality, deepening her trust and acceptance. She emphasizes the importance of saying yes to oneself and embracing opportunities. Keisha brought crystals and pictures of her family with her to space as keepsakes.
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    37 mins
  • Robots Through the Ages: Shmooze with Paul Levinson

    Robots Through the Ages: Shmooze with Paul Levinson
    Jul 21 2023
    Glad to interview Paul Levinson about Robots, AI, and the history of Science Fiction. Paul is lucky to have his novelette “Robinson Calculator,” included in a volume of sci-fi about Robots spanning over 100 years. In our conversation we talk about the famous RUR story from Prague ~ 100 years ago. We discuss the different […]
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    53 mins
  • Shmooze with Paul Levinson: Exploring the Universe through Scholarship, Sci-Fi, and Songwriting

    Shmooze with Paul Levinson: Exploring the Universe through Scholarship, Sci-Fi, and Songwriting
    Mar 17 2023
    Welcome to Space Midrash! Today’s episode is all about my interview with the legendary sci-fi author, Paul Levinson. In this interview, we covered everything from religion to space travel, and of course, his latest project, an alternate history of The Beatles. One of the most interesting moments was when Paul talked about […]
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    1 hr and 14 mins
  • Shmooze with Avi Loeb: from Extraterrestrial to Interstellar

    Shmooze with Avi Loeb: from Extraterrestrial to Interstellar
    Mar 3 2023
    This episode’s guest is Professor Avi Loeb, Astronomy chair at Harvard. He has done more than 2000 interviews since publishing his book, Extraterrestrial, about his conclusion that the interstellar object called ua’muamua was of alien origin. To add to the pile, our interview was fresh and deeply Jewish. Dr. Loeb may be known worldwide now […]
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    53 mins