SpaceBase Podcast

Hosted by Emeline Paat-Dahlstrom

Technology Education ScienceInterviews guestsExplicit

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Latest episode

May 2026

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EN-US

About the show

SpaceBase is a social enterprise who's mission is to democratize access to space through education, entrepreneurship and community building starting in New Zealand. This podcast is dedicated to creating the journey from space enthusiast to space entrepreneurs through insightful interviews with aerospace specialists, investors, and entrepreneurs sharing their experience and knowledge of the space industry, and their personal journeys.To support the podcast, please consider becoming a patron.Since its incorporation in 2017, SpaceBase has collaborated with economic development agencies, local and national governments, and advocacy groups, startups, investors, educators to deliver over 300 educational presentations, briefings, and workshops, national space and aerospace competitions, as well as helping birth space communities and organizations locally and globally. SpaceBase also assists in technical due diligence, consulting projects for investors, industry stakeholders, and space startups. SpaceBase created a platform for the NZ Aerospace Directory and has co-founded the Global Space Enablers Network (GSEN), a decentralised alliance of organizations focused on enabling the space enabler worldwide.

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60 recent

May 24, 2026Episode 8645 min

Cataysing and Growing New Zealand's Deep Tech Community: An Interview with Mat Rowe

An interview with Mat Rowe — Founding Parter and Executive Director of Outset Ventures, New Zealand’s leading deep-tech incubator and investment platform.Mat has spent more than two decades working at the intersection of science, engineering, and commercialization, helping turn breakthrough technologies into globally significant companies. Before founding Outset Ventures, he was part of the founding team at LanzaTech, contributing to the scale-up of one of the world’s most recognized industrial biotech companies across the US, Europe, and Asia.He has also co-founded and supported multiple deep-tech ventures including Dotterel Technologies, focused on UAV audio systems and drone noise reduction, and Mint Innovation, which recovers precious metals from e-waste using biometallurgy. Through Outset Ventures, Mat has helped build an ecosystem supporting some of New Zealand’s most ambitious science and engineering founders — including companies connected to aerospace, climate tech, advanced materials, biotech, and robotics.Mat is known for his hands-on approach with technical founders and his passion for helping breakthrough ideas move from prototype to global impact.Hosts: SpaceBase Founder Emeline Paat-DahlstromResources:Outset Ventures - NZ incubator and investment platformWhat Founder's Want - resources platform for startup FoundersY Combinator - US based startup accelerator and venture capital firmSupport the show

April 23, 2026Episode 8541 min

Working towards an 18th Sustainable Development Goal - "Space for All": An Interview with Chiara Moenter

An interview with Chiara Moenter, co-founder of the global initiative SDG 18: Space for All, and a leading voice in space sustainability and governance.Chiara’s journey bridges policy, research, and communication. From her work at the European Space Agency and the German Aerospace Industry Association to her academic research on sustainable space governance, she has consistently focused on one central question: how can we ensure space remains a shared and sustainable resource for humanity?Beyond policy, Chiara is also an active communicator and community builder — from moderating major international space events to delivering a TEDx talk on the Overview Effect, and contributing to global initiatives that connect space with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.Chiara is a policy adviser for the New Zealand Space Agency. She is speaking here in her personal capacity.Hosts: SpaceBase Founder Emeline Paat-DahlstromResources:UNOOSA: Space Supporting the Sustainable Development GoalsSpace Sustainability: Stakeholder Engagement StudyFrank White and the Overview Effect - BooksEuropean Space Flight publicationsSpace NewsSpace Watch GlobalEuropean Space Policy InstituteSpace Generation Advisory CouncilInternational Space UniversitySpace Experts:Steven FreelandTanja Masson zwaanTorsten KrieningTomas HrozenskySupport the show

March 29, 2026Episode 8445 min

Breaking Into Space - Careers in Communications, Marketing, and PR: An Interview with Suk Narayanan

Continuing our alternating series featuring members of the Global Space Enablers Network – GSEN, highlighting individuals working to accelerate space ecosystems across emerging and established regions worldwide.An interview with Suk Narayanan — Head of Global Partnerships for Mission ShakthiSAT, Founder and President of the AIMERS Foundation, and a global leader at the intersection of space, technology, communication, and entrepreneurship.Suk’s journey is anything but linear. Starting in electrical and electronics engineering, she went on to co-found one of India’s largest robotics and AI outreach initiatives, impacting over 500,000 students. She later transitioned into global communications, working across 58 countries, before rebuilding her career from scratch in Australia — gaining experience across sales, leadership, and media. Today, she plays a pivotal role in global space initiatives, including Space Kidz India and Mission ShakthiSAT — an ambitious all-women-led space mission engaging 12,000 girls across 108 countries — while also investing in startups and driving inclusive innovation ecosystems. Hosts: SpaceBase Founder Emeline Paat-DahlstromResourcesMission ShaktiSATAIMERS FoundationSupport the show

February 23, 2026Episode 8352 min

Building an Aerospace Career Through Systems Thinking and Product Design: An Interview with Roger Warren

An interview with Roger Warren — an experienced aerospace design engineer, prototype specialist, and passionate community builder in the aviation and space sector.Roger brings decades of hands-on engineering experience across aerospace, medical devices, advanced product design, and human-powered flight. From working on the Airbus Zephyr stratospheric UAV program in the UK to leading research prototyping at the Surgical Engineering Lab at the University of Auckland, Roger’s career reflects a deep commitment to solving complex engineering challenges through experimentation, systems thinking, and practical innovation .He currently serves as Vice Chair of the Royal Aeronautical Society – New Zealand Division, Auckland Branch, where he is helping re-energize the aerospace community and break down silos across the sector .With a background spanning fluid mechanics, human factors, lightweight structures, extreme environments, and space systems engineering , Roger combines technical depth with a strong belief in collaboration and affordability in aviation.Hosts: SpaceBase Founder Emeline Paat-DahlstromResourcesAirbus Zephyr High Altitude Platform Station (HAPS)Auckland Bioengineering InstituteUniversity of Auckland Aeronautics ClubNew Zealand Royal Aeronautical Society Auckland BranchSupport the show

January 22, 2026Episode 8247 min

Catalysing a Space Cluster in South New Zealand: An Interview with David Powell

An interview with David Powell — Business Development Manager at the University of Otago and Convener of the Aero+Space South initiative. With over 25 years of international experience in business development, trade, and innovation strategy, David has been at the forefront of building bridges between academia, industry, and government to support high-growth sectors like biotech, health, food — and most notably, New Zealand’s emerging space ecosystem.From leading global trade initiatives to supporting export companies and pioneering aerospace collaboration across Aotearoa’s southern regions, David brings a rare mix of vision, experience, and deep sector knowledge. He also has a long-standing passion for social enterprise and economic development — themes that continue to guide his work today.Hosts: SpaceBase Founder Emeline Paat-DahlstromResourcesAero+Space South - Space Cluster in OtagoUniversity of OtagoCity on Mars by Kelly and Zack Weinersmith Support the show

December 23, 2025Episode 8135 min

Accelerating Access to Space Through Startup Ecosystem Building and Innovation: An Interview with Vedika Latchman-Singh

We continue the alternating series featuring Global Space Enablers Network - GSEN Members.Vedika Latchman-Singh is the Director of Exotopic where she leads the company's growth across Australia and the Asia–Pacific region. Vedika brings over two decades of experience working at the intersection of science, engineering, and innovation, with a particular passion for enabling diverse and inclusive futures in the space industry.Her journey spans roles in strategic partnerships, business development, and sustainability — from supporting Australia's space research programs at CSIRO, to building capacity for young engineers and technologists across Africa and Australia. She has also worked extensively in coaching and mentoring women in STEM fields, contributing to youth outreach and diversity-focused education initiatives.Vedika holds a degree in Chemical Engineering, has trained in professional coaching, and is an alumna of the International Space University’s Southern Hemisphere Space Studies Program. At Exotopic, she combines her technical background with a visionary mindset, helping to deliver immersive, futures-oriented experiences that inspire new thinking about space, innovation, and our collective future.Hosts: SpaceBase Founder Emeline Paat-DahlstromResourcesVedikha's Linkedin ProfileExotopicCSIROISU Southern Hemisphere Space Studies Program Reading LIstInvisible Women by Caroline Criado PerezSo you want to build a space ecosystem?: A guide to growing a space innovative ecosystem.A Space Ecosystem Maturity Index: Proposition to Assess and Identify the Development Level of Space Innovation Ecosystems Around the WorldAssessing Space Ecosystem Maturity Through Case Studies: Leveraging the Space Innovation Ecosystem Maturity Rubric for Strategic DevelopmentSupport the show

November 18, 2025Episode 8044 min

Demistifying Hybernation Research for Space Exploration: An Interview with Ekaterina Kostioukhina

An interview with Dr. Ekaterina Kostioukhina — a medical doctor, space medicine researcher, educator, and global security advisor.Ekaterina completed her medical training at the University of Miami’s Miller School of Medicine, with postgraduate studies at Harvard University. Her current research focuses on hypometabolic states in humans, such as torpor and hibernation, through interdisciplinary collaborations that span borders and institutions.She has served as a guest lecturer at MIT, teaching Space Medicine and Crisis/Disaster Management, and has trained military and intelligence personnel on high-stakes global security issues. Ekaterina is a member of the Parliamentary Intelligence and Security Forum in Washington, DC, and her expert commentary has been featured in outlets such as Forbes, Crisis Response Journal, and other leading publications.Currently on medical assignment in New Zealand, she continues her work from a remote environment, all while balancing roles as a physician, mother, educator, and mentor to the next generation of space and security professionals.Hosts: SpaceBase Founder Emeline Paat-DahlstromResourcesHiberia - Hibernational Intelligence Base for Education and Research and International AllianceAlaskaX: Hybernational Science - an edX course exploring hibernation as a blueprint for resilience, drawing on the amazing strategies of animals that endure extreme Arctic winters.Support the show

October 29, 2025Episode 7932 min

Developing Superconducting Magnets for Breakthrough Spacecraft Propulsion Systems: An Interview with Ben Mallett

An interview with Dr. Ben Mallett — a senior scientist at the Paihau-Robinson Research Institute and co-founder of JxB Space Systems, a bold new space startup positioning New Zealand at the forefront of next-generation spacecraft propulsion.Ben has been instrumental in developing superconducting magnet systems now operating aboard the International Space Station as part of the recently launched Heki mission. He led the creation of a superconducting flux pump. — a device that energizes spacecraft magnets using drastically less power than traditional systems. This is a milestone not just for New Zealand space tech, but for global efforts toward sustainable space propulsion.Ben holds a Bachelors and Doctoral degrees in Physics from the the Macdiarmid Institute and Victoria University of Wellington.Beyond the lab, he was selected into a global space accelerator program in 2023, where he helped shape the commercial vision for JxB while continuing to break technical ground. Ben just won the 2025 KiwiNet Research Commercialisation - Breakthrough Innovation Award this month. Hosts: SpaceBase Founder Emeline Paat-DahlstromResourcesPaihau-Robinson Research InstituteHeki Mission - a technology demonstration mission to the International Space Station (ISS) that launched in September 2025.CHIASMA - connecting university students to STEM industriesSupport the show

September 29, 2025Episode 7839 min

Pioneering Astropreneurship Around the World: An Interview with Stephan Reckie

An interview with Stephan Reckie — a visionary leader, space entrepreneur, educator, and global connector. Stephan is the Executive Director of GEN Space, the space-focused arm of the Global Entrepreneurship Network, a platform operating in over 170 countries to empower anyone, anywhere to start and scale a business.At GEN Space, Stephan helps catalyze the growth of "astropreneurs" — entrepreneurs leveraging the space economy — by fostering cross-border collaboration between startups, investors, policymakers, researchers, and educators.Beyond GEN Space, Stephan holds multiple advisory and board positions with organizations that shape space innovation and policy, including EBAN Space, Beyond Earth Institute, and the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR). He’s a champion for international cooperation, mentoring, and empowering underrepresented communities through space-related opportunities. He teaches space entrepreneurship internationally, mentors student-led ventures, and supports innovation ecosystems from Armenia to Italy to the U.S.With a global mindset and a passion for expanding access to the space economy, Stephan brings a powerful perspective on how space entrepreneurship can uplift economies and societies worldwide.Hosts: SpaceBase Founder Emeline Paat-DahlstromResourcesGlobal Entrepreneurship Network (GEN) - operates in 200 countries with a mission to make it easier for anyone, anywhere, to start and scale a businessGEN - SPACE- enabling ventures in all industries. Leveraging lower earth orbit access.ISS National Laboratory - provides access to microgravity R&D on ISSESA Bussiness Incubation Centres - ESA Business Incubation Centres (ESA BICs) are the largest network of incubators supporting space related start-ups in Europe.Teachers in Space - non-profit educational organization that gets students excited about science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) by providing their teachers with extraordinary space science experiences and industry connections.Support the show

August 28, 2025Episode 7737 min

Building New Zealand's Satellite Capability while Addressing the Space Debris Problem: An Interview with Ben Taylor

An interview with Dr. Ben Taylor, a seasoned scientist, engineer, and project manager with over 15 years of experience delivering full-lifecycle space missions across the UK, Europe, and now Aotearoa New Zealand.Ben is currently a Senior Research Fellow at Te Pūnaha Ātea – Space Institute at the University of Auckland, and Co-Founder of Frond Space Systems, a startup offering compact and reliable end-of-life and deployable satellite systems.Previously, Ben held leadership roles at the Surrey Space Centre and University College London, where he helped design, build, test, and operate CubeSats like ALSat-Nano, InflateSail, and RemoveDebris — missions that pushed the boundaries of small satellite technology and active debris removal. He’s also contributed to radiation detection research and calibration for the Galileo program, and has delivered presentations at major international space conferences.Ben holds a PhD in Space Science from the University of Surrey, is a certified project management professional, and has been interviewed by major media outlets on cutting-edge space topics.Hosts: SpaceBase Founder Emeline Paat-DahlstromResourcesAuckland Programme for Space Systems - University of AucklandUniversity Nanosat Program - US Air ForceSupport the show