🎙 Ashton Zeth sits down with James Burk, Executive Director of the Mars Society, to share updates on the newest analog station HOPE in Ladakh, India (with ISRO as partners), record participation at MDRS, plans for the upcoming 2025 Mars Society Convention at USC, the launch of the new Mars Society Research Journal, and exciting developments from the Mars Technology Institute.

🌍 Highlights:

• Massive participation at MDRS this season

• Launch of the HOPE Analog in Ladakh

• Mars Society Convention 2025 — October 9–11 at USC (don’t miss Rob Manning at the Friday Night Banquet!)

• Updates from the Mars Technology Institute and new collaborations like Purdue University

• Discussing what's next in Mars exploration

📅 Preliminary Convention Schedule (subject to change): View Here

---Links --

Journal of Space Analog Research

https://jsar.space

HOPE analog Announcement:

https://www.marssociety.org/news/2025/09/16/indias-first-crewed-mars-analog-launches-with-protoplanet-isro-the-mars-society/

The Mars Society Convention 2025

https://www.marssocietyconference.org

Sponsor the upcoming convention in October: https://www.marssocietyconference.org/sponsors

Four Sponsorship Levels:

• Gold
• Silver
• Bronze
• Logo Only!

Flashline Analog in the Arctic

https://fmars.marssociety.org/

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Bhavya Lal, space policy leader, MIT alum, PhD from George Washington University, and recipient of NASA’s Distinguished Service Medal. After serving in senior leadership at NASA, Dr. Lal returned to RAND: School of Policy to continue shaping the conversation on national space strategy.

Our discussion spans some of the most urgent issues in space today: the growing orbital debris problem, the need for a shared global dataset, and the tension between America’s resources and ambitions in space. She emphasizes why strategic coherence and bipartisan commitment are essential for credibility and long-term success.

We also talk about the power of books to shape perspective, highlighting George R. Stewart’s Earth Abides — a life-changing novel that offers an “anti-history” of collapse and resilience, and what it teaches us about humanity’s fragile place on the cosmic shore.

🚀 Episode: Matt Gjertsen – From the Flightline to SpaceX to Startups

Matt Gjertsen has lived a life that blends military discipline, startup hustle, and a love for space. From early dreams of going to Mars, to serving as an Air Force instructor pilot, to shaping HR and training during SpaceX’s Crew Dragon era — his path has been anything but ordinary.

Now, through his own leadership courses and podcast, Matt explores what makes great teams tick — from the grind of late nights at startups to mission-focused endeavors. In this conversation, he shares how his military background gave him unique insights into building high-performing teams, why space still pulls at his heart, and how we can intrigue the world beyond the space bubble.

🌌 Expect talk of leadership, resilience, space stations, and the culture that pushes humanity further.

🎧 Tune in if you want to know what it takes to lead where it matters most — whether in the cockpit, the boardroom, or orbit.

Matt's Links:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewgjertsen

https://bettereverydaystudios.com/

Host / Producer of Leadership Launchpad Podcast

https://leadershiplaunchpad.captivate.fm/listen