Podcast
Moonshot Radio
Hosted by Linda Du · EN
Moonshot Radio is a show for people who believe the future can be bigger, weirder, and better than what we’ve been told.
Hosted by Linda Du, a globetrotting investor, founder and adventurer, the show dives into the ideas, technologies, and unconventional thinkers shaping the world ahead. From AI misfits and out-of-this world founders to radical thinkers and identity hackers, every episode asks: What happens next, and what does it mean to be human in the age of technology?
If you’re obsessed with the edge of innovation, or the cultural shifts defining our century, you’ll feel right at home.
13episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Moonshot Radio [S1:E12]— Ben Haldemann: LifeShip, Moon Archives & the Future of Humanity
4w ago00:54:59Tap to summarizeFor the Season 1 finale of Moonshot Radio, we go to the moon.Recorded in San Diego at the start of April, during the Artemis II mission, this episode brings the season full circle: from asking what it means to be human in the age of technology, to asking what parts of humanity we would carry beyond Earth.I speak with Ben Haldemann, founder of LifeShip, a project creating monuments across space with backups of Earth’s life and humanity’s story. LifeShip has already landed a small golden pyramid capsule on the moon containing plant seeds, human DNA, species DNA, and a cultural archive of art, knowledge, stories, and wishes from Earth.We discuss:What it means to create a backup of EarthWhy the moon is becoming a new archive for life and cultureSeed banks, DNA archives, and humanity’s long-term legacyWhether space expansion is escapism or stewardshipThe new era of commercial moon missionsBurning Man, moon temples, and participatory space cultureGovernance, values, and how we avoid repeating Earth’s mistakes in spaceWhat human consciousness, creativity, and care might mean in a multiplanetary futureThis episode closes Season 1 by returning to the heart of Moonshot Radio: technology is not just about what we can build. It is about what we choose to preserve, what we choose to become, and what values we carry with us into new worlds.Thank you for joining this first season of Moonshot Radio.
Transcribe →Moonshot Radio [S1:E11] - Phil Johnston: Starcloud, Data Centers in Space & Orbital Infrastructure
Mar 3000:39:23Tap to summarizeCan the future of the cloud be built in orbit?In this episode of Moonshot Radio, I speak with Phil Johnston, co-founder and CEO of Starcloud, about one of the boldest infrastructure ideas I’ve heard in a long time: putting data centers in space.We explore why rising AI demand is colliding with Earth’s constraints on energy, water, and land — and why space may become an unexpectedly practical place to run compute. Phil explains the economics behind orbital data centers, what reusable launch changes, and how Starcloud is thinking about satellite compute, cooling, and large-scale solar power in orbit.We also talk about startup speed, credibility in frontier industries, moon hotels, asteroid mining, space law, superintelligence, and what the Fermi paradox might tell us about the long-term future of civilization.A conversation about infrastructure, abundance, and what it means to take the cloud to the stars.
Transcribe →Moonshot Radio [S1:E10] — Max Krahe: Algorithms, Government & the Future of Democracy
Mar 1800:57:28Tap to summarizeCan politics be automated?In this episode of Moonshot Radio, I speak with political theorist and political economist Max Krahe about whether AI could ever replace politicians — and why democracy is about far more than optimization.Max argues that politics exists because human beings disagree: not just about the best means, but about values, goals, identity, and the shape of society itself. From that starting point, we explore the limits of algorithmic governance and the deeper question of what technology can and cannot solve.We discuss AI in government, surveillance and control, central planning, the future of Germany’s economic model, EU regulation, digital trust, defense tech, and why prosperity matters for democratic stability.This episode is about the relationship between capitalism and democracy, the role of the state, and what happens when code begins to shape collective life.
Transcribe →Moonshot Radio [S1:E9] - Gabo Arora: Virtual Reality, Empathy & the Future of Immersive Storytelling
Feb 2000:55:31Tap to summarizeCan virtual reality make us more empathetic?In this episode of Moonshot Radio, filmmaker and immersive media artist Gabo Arora explores how VR can move beyond entertainment and become a powerful tool for emotional connection.We talk about the promise and limits of immersive storytelling — what happens when audiences are no longer passive viewers but embodied participants. Does stepping into someone else’s world deepen empathy? Or does it risk simplifying complex realities into emotional spectacle?We also explore the ethical dimensions of immersion, the responsibility of creators working with powerful emotional technologies, and how we might design digital tools that strengthen — rather than erode — our shared humanity.This episode invites us to rethink technology not as distraction, but as a medium for connection.
Transcribe →Moonshot Radio [S1:E8] — Heather Dewey-Hagborg: Biosurveillance, DNA Profiling & Genetic Identity
Feb 1301:13:17Tap to summarizeYour DNA is everywhere. Who gets to read it—and what story will they tell?In this episode of Moonshot Radio, I speak with artist and biohacker Heather Dewey-Hagborg, known for reconstructing human faces from discarded DNA. Her groundbreaking project Stranger Visions exposed how easily genetic material can be collected from everyday objects, and how quickly it can be transformed into data, prediction, and identity.We explore the expanding world of biosurveillance: how our bodies—DNA, microbes, facial features, fingerprints, even breath and heat—are increasingly tracked, analyzed, and categorized by governments and corporations.In this conversation, we discuss:Forensic DNA phenotyping and the rise of “DNA mugshots”Chelsea Manning and the politics of algorithmic identityBiobanks, newborn blood spots, and the hidden afterlives of our biological samplesGenetic prediction of behavior—and its use in courtsThe risks of eugenics, “designer genetics,” and data-driven purity narrativesWhether biotechnology will deepen inequality—or help us reconnectThis episode asks urgent questions about privacy, agency, and control in an age where biology itself has become legible.What does identity mean when your genetic blueprint can be read, stored, sold, and interpreted?
Transcribe →Moonshot Radio [S1:E7] - Amy Karle: Living Art, Regeneration and the Human Body
Jan 3000:43:26Tap to summarizeWhat does it mean to be human when our bodies can be redesigned, regenerated, and reprogrammed?In Episode 7 of Moonshot Radio, Linda Du is joined by Amy Karle, a pioneering bioartist and futurist working at the intersection of biotechnology, regenerative medicine, and the human body.Born with a life-threatening cranial defect, Amy’s personal history deeply informs her practice. Through living artworks that grow, heal, and evolve, she challenges us to rethink identity, imperfection, and the role of technology in shaping our future.In this conversation, we explore:The body as an interface between biology and technologyRegeneration, stem cells, and bioengineered organsArt as a tool for asking ethical and philosophical questions science alone can’tLongevity, legacy, and what we leave behind — on Earth and beyondHow biotechnology may reshape evolution and our sense of selfThis episode is a meditation on healing, embodiment, and the future of the human form, where art doesn’t just represent life, but actively participates in it.
Transcribe →Moonshot Radio [S1:E6] - Emil Kendziorra: Cryopreservation, Biostasis & Living Longer
Jan 1400:56:13Tap to summarizeWhat if death could be treated as a pause?In this episode of Moonshot Radio, I speak with Emil Kendziorra, founder of tomorrow.bio, about cryopreservation (cryonics) as a real-world bridging technology — preserving people after legal death in the hope that future medicine can cure the underlying disease, reverse aging, and one day revive them.We unpack biostasis vs cryopreservation, why revival isn’t possible yet, the ethics of access and inequality, how time scarcity shapes meaning, what memory and identity might look like after revival, and how Tomorrow Bio actually operates end-to-end (subscriptions, life insurance, medical response, long-term storage).#MoonshotRadio #TomorrowBio #Cryonics #Cryopreservation #Biostasis #Longevity #LifeExtension #Bioethics #FutureOfMedicine #Neuroscience #SciencePodcast #TechPodcast
Transcribe →Moonshot Radio [S1:E5] - Leo Kayali : Invo Station, eVTOLs & Cities Reimagined
Jan 601:13:29Tap to summarizeWhat if cities weren’t built around roads but around airspace?In this episode of Moonshot Radio, host @du_mplings sits down with Leo Kayali, founder of Invo Station, to explore a radical vision for the future of transportation: fully autonomous, electric flying vehicles designed to scale like cars.A former Tesla engineer, Leo shares how personal loss during COVID reshaped his sense of urgency and why he believes rethinking movement is one of the fastest ways to reduce emissions, reclaim time, and redesign urban life.In this conversation, we explore:✈️ Why most “flying car” concepts fail at scaleThe safety, cost, and infrastructure challenges holding the industry back and why simply scaling up drones doesn’t work.🛸 A UFO-inspired design for urban flightHow enclosing propellers inside the vehicle body radically improves safety, redundancy, and noise, and enables street-level takeoff and landing.🤖 Autonomy first, not as an afterthoughtWhy Invo Station is building AI-driven air highways that mirror existing road networks, instead of point-to-point chaos in the sky.🗺️ Air traffic like Google MapsHow Leo’s team is designing vertical and horizontal “lanes” in the air to regulate traffic at city-scale.⚖️ Regulation is finally catching upWhat recent FAA rule changes and White House executive orders mean for eVTOLs, autonomous flight, and commercial deployment.(Featuring insights on the Federal Aviation Administration certification process.)💰 From $10M aircraft to $60K flying vehiclesHow Invo Station plans to bring costs down through manufacturing design, mass production, and software-driven business models.🏙️ Who are the first customers?From individual owners to ride-sharing, family vehicles, emergency response, and cities themselves.🧠 AI beyond driving: fundraising, ops & leadershipHow Leo is using AI agents for fundraising, sales, marketing, and simulation—and why he believes most white-collar work will be automated.🔋 What comes next: solid-state batteries & Blackwell GPUsWhy breakthroughs in energy storage and compute change what’s possible right now, not in 50 years.🌍 Optimism without denialWhy Leo believes technological progress, when paired with ethics and systems thinking, can still bend the future in a better direction.This episode isn’t just about flying cars—it’s about how infrastructure shapes civilization, and what happens when we design mobility for people, not congestion.⸻🔔 Subscribe to Moonshot Radio for conversations with the founders, scientists, and builders reprogramming our future.⸻References & Links (from the episode) • Invo Station • Joby Aviation • NVIDIA Blackwell GPU platform • Waymo autonomous vehicles • FAA powered-lift / eVTOL rulemaking (SFAR No. 120) • Isaac Asimov — Three Laws of Robotics
Transcribe →Moonshot Radio [S1:E4] - Luke Iseman: Weather Hacking: Make Sunsets, Solar Geoengineering & Climate Urgency
Dec 2300:56:43Tap to summarizeWho gets to control the Earth’s thermostat?In this episode of Moonshot Radio, host Linda Du speaks with Luke Iseman, founder of Make Sunsets, a startup experimenting with solar geoengineering by releasing reflective particles into the stratosphere to cool the planet.Luke’s work has ignited global debate about ethics, governance, risk, and radical action in the face of climate collapse. This conversation goes deep into the science, philosophy, and urgency behind a technology many consider taboo.Themes:Solar geoengineering explainedHow releasing sulfur dioxide (SO₂) into the stratosphere mimics volcanic eruptions to reflect sunlight and reduce global temperatures.From science fiction to startup realityHow Termination Shock inspired Luke to investigate geoengineering—and why scientific consensus existed long before public action.Why entrepreneurs act when institutions stallThe tension between academic caution, government inaction, and founder-led experimentation in an accelerating climate crisis.Cloud seeding vs. stratospheric aerosolsThe difference between traditional cloud seeding (using silver iodide) and high-altitude aerosol reflection, and why Make Sunsets chose the latter.Regulation (or lack thereof) in the stratosphereWhy international airspace law remains unresolved above ~20km, and what Luke learned from engineers who worked on Project Loon.Cooling credits & climate economicsHow Make Sunsets sells “cooling credits” directly to individuals, why governments and corporations have been slow to engage, and what this reveals about carbon markets.Carbon markets, fraud & moral hazardA critical look at voluntary carbon credits, including findings that large portions may be ineffective or fraudulent.Public backlash & political controversyFrom scrutiny by the Environmental Protection Agency to reactions from climate activists and regulators.Is geoengineering playing God?Why Luke argues that everything we already do, from flying planes to burning fossil fuels, is geoengineering, just in the wrong direction.Scaling planetary infrastructureWhat it would take to meaningfully cool the planet, from balloon launches to military-grade deployment by G20 nations.Other frontier climate ideasIncluding space-based sunshades like those proposed by the Planetary Sunshade Foundation, nuclear power revival, and climate-aligned AI infrastructure.Activism, blockchain & coordination at scaleReflections on movements like Extinction Rebellion, DAOs, crypto-enabled coordination, and what GameStop-style collective action could mean for climate.Work, automation & post-scarcity futuresDrawing on ideas from David Graeber, including critiques of “bullshit jobs” and what people might build if survival wasn’t the constraint.Immigration, innovation & global growthWhy openness to migration, experimentation, and building may matter more than any single technology.This episode doesn’t offer easy answers, but it confronts the uncomfortable reality that not acting may be the most dangerous choice of all.
Transcribe →Moonshot Radio [S1:E3] - Andrew Hessel: Programming Life & the Future of Genomics
Dec 1600:53:05Tap to summarizeWhat happens when life itself becomes programmable?In this episode of Moonshot Radio, host Linda Du speaks with Andrew Hessel: futurist, synthetic biologist, and co-founder of GP-write; about the radical shift underway in biology, where DNA is increasingly treated like software and living systems can be designed, edited, and built from scratch.Andrew explains how synthetic (or “digital”) biology is transforming medicine, food, and industry, and why the ability to read and write genetic code could reshape evolution itself. From cancer-fighting viruses and personalized “n-of-one” gene therapies to human cloning, longevity, and biological banking, this conversation explores both the promise and the peril of engineering life.We also dive into the ethical, regulatory, and security challenges that come with unprecedented biological power:– Who regulates programmable life?– How do we prevent misuse, lab leaks, or bio-engineered pandemics?– What happens when individuals — not governments — can design viruses or proteins?Andrew shares insights from his work on Humane Genomics, the future of personalized cancer treatments, and why biodefense and global cooperation are now existential priorities. The conversation expands beyond biology into big questions about mortality, digital twins, cloning, AI-assisted parenting, and what it might truly mean to pursue immortality.At its core, this episode asks a fundamental question:As we gain god-like powers over life, are we ready for the responsibility?🎙️ Guest: Andrew Hessel🧬 Topics: Synthetic Biology, Genomics, Biosecurity, Longevity, AI & Life, Ethics of Engineering Life🌍 Part of Moonshot Radio, a podcast exploring the people and technologies reprogramming our future.Subscribe for more conversations on what it means to be human in the age of technology.
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