What's different about outer space today?

What's different about outer space today?

Author: Francis Tapon March 21, 2025 Duration: 16:08

Matthew Weinzierl and Brendan Rosseau are the authors of Space to Grow: Unlocking the Final Economic Frontier. The new book explains the business side of space.


Watch all four videos about Space to Grow


I interview Brendan Rousseau, one of the two co-authors.


Brendan Rousseau shares his origin story and how he ended up at Blue Origin. He discusses why space isn't what it used to be.
Watch the Video
About Brendan Rousseau 

Current Role:




  • Strategy Manager - New Glenn, Blue Origin: Focuses on orbital launch strategy.




Education:




  • Williams College: Bachelor's in Astronomy and Economics.




  • Phillips Exeter Academy: MacKenty Prize in Astronomy.




Professional Experience:




  • Harvard Business School: Teaching Fellow and Research Associate.




  • Booz Allen Hamilton: Senior Consultant supporting U.S. Space Force programs.




  • Williams College Astronomy Department: Teaching Assistant.




Publications & Awards:




  • Co-author of Space to Grow: Unlocking the Final Economic Frontier.




  • Recognized as a Payload Pioneers - 30 Under 30 and Via Satellite Rising Star.






Questions


In these podcasts, I ask them the following questions:


1. If you were an entrepreneur, what space-related startup idea would you pursue?


2. What are some of the most surprising findings from your research?


3. How do you envision the future of human habitation in space?


4. In what ways can space exploration contribute to solving Earth’s economic challenges?


5. What ethical considerations arise from expanding economic activities into space? For example, can we colonize Mars or Europa if we find non-DNA-based bacteria there?


6. What were the challenges you faced during your research?


7. How do you foresee international relations evolving as nations compete for resources in space?


8. What are your predictions for the next decade in space exploration?


9. What are your thoughts on space tourism?


10. Who is the primary audience for this book?


11. What do you hope readers take away from "Space to Grow"?


12. What's a popular vision of space exploration that probably won't happen?


13. What narratives or myths about space need to be challenged?


14. What's the percentage chance that the Kessler Syndrome catastrophe will occur in the 2020s, 2030, and beyond?


15. How can public awareness be raised regarding the importance of investing in space?


16. What advice would you give entrepreneurs looking to enter the space industry?


17. In what ways might our values shift as we become a multi-planetary species?


18. What is a rarely discussed consequence of expanding into outer space?


19. If there was one message you want readers to remember, what would it be?


20. Do you want to clarify any misconceptions about the space economy?


21. What do you wish you had mentioned in the book? Perhaps some breaking news?


22. Lastly, how can interested individuals get involved or contribute to discussions around space economics? 


23. What tips do you have for co-writing a book?


24. Did you change your mind about something during your writing process?


25. Do you have action items for the audience?


Feedback

Leave anonymous audio feedback at SpeakPipe


More info

You can post comments, ask questions, and sign up for my newsletter at http://wanderlearn.com.



If you like this podcast, subscribe and share! 


On social media, my username is always FTapon. Connect with me on:



My Patrons sponsored this show!


Claim your monthly reward by becoming a patron at http://Patreon.com/FTapon


Rewards start at just $2/month!


Affiliate links

Get 25% off when you sign up to Trusted Housesitters, a site that helps you find sitters or homes to sit in.


Start your podcast with my company, Podbean, and get one month free!


In the USA, I recommend trading crypto with Kraken


Outside the USA, trade crypto with Binance and get 5% off your trading fees!


For backpacking gear, buy from Gossamer Gear.



Get full access to Francis Tapon at ftapon.substack.com/subscribe

There's a certain kind of travel that changes you, not just your location. It’s the slow, immersive kind where the journey itself becomes the teacher. In WanderLearn: Travel to Transform Your Mind & Life, Francis Tapon acts as your guide into this world, exploring how leaving familiar ground can fundamentally reshape your perspective. This isn't about quick tips or itineraries; it's about the deeper conversations that happen at the crossroads of culture, society, and personal growth. Each episode delves into how we engage with places and people, often weaving in discussions about the role of modern technology in both enabling and complicating these profound experiences. You'll hear stories and insights that challenge the conventional tourist mindset, pushing toward a more thoughtful, engaged way of moving through the world. Francis draws from a wealth of experience to discuss concepts like vagabonding and deep travel, making the case that the greatest souvenirs aren't trinkets, but transformed thoughts. Tuning into this podcast feels like sitting down with a well-traveled friend who understands that the real destination is often a shift within yourself. It’s for anyone who believes that travel, at its best, is a powerful catalyst for learning and living differently.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 388

WanderLearn: Travel to Transform Your Mind & Life
Podcast Episodes
Sawyer CEO - Philanthropist Kurt Avery [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:40
Corporations are often seen as evil, selfish entities. We overlook that they allow billions of parents to feed, educate, and heal their kids. Jobs also generate taxes that allow governments to build roads, hospitals, and…
Taking the Stairs & Liking It with Lauren Speeth of Elfenworks [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:04
Sometimes a brief meeting with one human can change your life. Lauren Speeth, President of Elphenworks Productions, met US President Jimmy Carter decades ago.Watch!Lauren Speeth, PhD, combines a lifelong background in Si…
Vietnam's Sexism, Religion, Education, & Future [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:19
Watch this interview to enjoy the b-rollhttps://youtu.be/35UMP6SV-zwHal makes informative videos about Vietnam.1st video of the series:Subscribe to Hal's outstanding YouTube channelB-Roll credit: @HalOnEarthTimeline00:00…
What Do the Vietnamese Really Think About Americans? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:46
Watch the video version of this podcastHal makes informative videos about Vietnam.See my previous video with him:Subscribe to Hal's outstanding YouTube channel. ConnectSend me an anonymous voicemail at SpeakPipe.com/FTap…
Hal On Earth, Especially Vietnam [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:27
Hal makes informative videos about Vietnam.Watch the video of this podcasthttps://youtu.be/RFcLm9fe4a0Hal gets credit for the B-roll in the video!Subscribe to Hal's outstanding YouTube channel.Timeline00:00 Who is Hal Me…
Everest Alone in Winter via West Ridge [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:05
Jost Kobusch, a 32-year-old German mountaineer who summited Denali in winter, is attempting what some experts give a 1% chance of success: he wants to summit Everest in winter, alone, without supplemental oxygen, and fol…
How Erik is Escaping Normal Life [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:12
I bumped into Erik while visiting Big Basin National Park in Nevada, USA. He's been a nomad, living out of his Subaru on a modest budget, and vlogging about his experience. He shows us how he does it.youtu.be/BhUD0pjITsU…
What Everyone Got Wrong About the Kiss Cam Scandal [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:50
Dr. Isabelle Morley is a couples therapist and author of "They're Not Gaslighting You."https://youtu.be/cPahcRnG_FgThe kiss cam moment exposes much more than a couple’s private drama—it reveals how we judge, label, and p…
The Satlantis Event App [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:25
WanderLearn explores travel, tech, and transformation. This is a tech-related episode.Aleksandar Svetski is the CEO of Satlantis.io, which began as a travel app but has pivoted toward events, including travel-related eve…
8 Hypotheses About Mallory & Irvine on Everest by Dr Robert Edwards [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:21
Dr. Robert Edwards, author of The Last Step but One, proposes 5 hypotheses about Mallory and Irvine’s final ascent of Everest.Two of the hypotheses have sub-hypotheses, bringing the total number of conjectures to 8.Rober…