After Things Podcast

The episode opens with a discussion of SpinLaunch after a headline about a NASA payload launched by a giant centrifugal system and later dug out with an excavator. The hosts describe how the concept uses a spinning lower stage in a vacuum to fling small payloads upward, with a conventional upper-stage rocket taking over later, and they debate whether it could realistically serve small satellite launches or other niche payloads. They also react to a test clip and note the company’s 10th successful flight test, while remaining cautious about how far the system can scale. The middle of the episode centers on a strange airline PA mystery involving human-sounding groans or voices reported on multiple American Airlines flights. The hosts review the official explanation that a mechanical PA amplifier issue caused the sounds, but they explore alternative possibilities such as interference, a hidden device, a prank, a hacker, or a spooky explanation, and they compare the audio to other odd intermittent sounds they have heard. The conversation then shifts to a study on rhythm-based musical training for older adults, broader speculation about adult learning across the lifespan, and an extended picks segment covering Moonfall, The Economist's The Prince, House of the Dragon, Star Trek: Lower Decks, Andor, and criticism of Obi-Wan Kenobi. Key topics SpinLaunch and small satellite launches: They discuss SpinLaunch as a possible way to launch small satellites and other non-human payloads, e

Justin and Bryce both tried out the Structured app we talked about last week and have some critical feedback. What features stick out after a week of use? Send your project questions/ideas to [email protected], subject line “After Things.” “The World’s Most Satisfying Checkbox”: https://www.andy.works/words/the-most-satisfying-checkbox

The episode opens with a discussion of NASA's DART mission, a planned spacecraft impact on the moonlet Dimorphos orbiting Didymos to test asteroid deflection. The hosts explain the basic idea, compare it with other hypothetical planetary-defense methods such as nukes, gravity tractors, and mass drivers, and note that NASA planned a livestream and a later probe to measure the orbital change more precisely. The middle of the episode moves through several weird-news items: recent highway cargo spills of Alfredo sauce, tomatoes, and a Coors Light truck in Florida; a published report of a fox in Spain filmed catching live carp; and a strange deep-water shark photo from Australia that sparks jokes and speculation about shark identification and how pressure can affect appearance. The episode closes with a local-news story about a gray seal nicknamed Schubert in a Beverly, Massachusetts pond, including efforts by police, firefighters, and wildlife experts to corral it and return it to the wild. Key topics Planetary defense methods and DART: The hosts explain the DART mission and compare it with other asteroid-deflection ideas: nuking an asteroid, using a spacecraft's gravity, or a mass-driver-style probe that throws asteroid material off the surface. Dimorphos, Didymos, and follow-up observation: They identify Dimorphos as the body being struck while orbiting Didymos, mention NASA livestream coverage, say the event might be visible from Earth, and note a later probe planned to measur

Bryce is diving into a new todo/calendar hybrid app, Structured. How do we use apps and plan our days? Send your project questions/ideas to [email protected], subject line “After Things.” Picks: Andrew: Beyond Fireship Justin: House of the Dragon Brian: Life’s Work from David Milch

The episode opens with a long discussion of Artemis/SLS, which the hosts describe as a politically driven NASA program built to preserve existing contractors rather than as an engineering-first project. They argue it was shaped by pork-barrel politics, hydrogen’s complexity, and sunk costs, and they debate whether the program should keep going, whether the public should call it out more directly, and whether any government backup system should be structurally different from private launch providers. The conversation then moves through several space and tech stories: Blue Origin’s New Shepard booster failure where the escape capsule separated as designed, Rocket Lab’s successful mission and the tougher funding environment for smaller space companies, and a discussion of BlueWalker 3 and the tradeoff between bright low-Earth-orbit hardware and better telecommunications. The hosts also react to a Nazi space-mirror concept and spend time on the Brellyon/Borelion ultra-reality display, before closing with media picks including Toem, Cobra Kai, David Milch’s memoir Life's Work, and Andrew’s discussion of publishing deals and Masterclass. Key topics Pork-barrel politics and contractor favoritism in NASA programs: The hosts explicitly describe Artemis/SLS as a congressional compromise meant to keep existing contractors funded, not a program designed primarily around spaceflight goals. Hydrogen propulsion as a recurring reliability problem: Hydrogen is repeatedly described as difficul

The episode opens with a discussion of a FOIA request by The Black Vault for additional Navy UAP videos after earlier Navy videos had been publicly released. The hosts debate why more footage would be withheld, suggesting ordinary explanations like protecting military capabilities, avoiding disclosure of foreign technology tests, or keeping unresolved sightings from becoming public intelligence targets; they also talk about how tedious FOIA requests are and how agencies resist disclosure. The middle of the episode moves to a rare Florida snake story about a rim rock crowned snake found dead at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. The hosts explain that the snake was only about eight inches long, had not been seen in years, and died after choking on a giant Caribbean centipede, which scientists examined with a CT scan. The episode then turns into a long comedic hypothetical about using huge resources to make Earth safer from volcanoes, before shifting into more serious discussion of catastrophic eruptions, preparedness gaps, geothermal ideas, and the limits of current forecasting; later segments cover a SpaceX static burn fire, a Blue Origin anomaly and escape-system activation, and a humorous debate over Merriam-Webster adding slang and modern words. The show ends with media picks for Rick and Morty, What We Do in the Shadows, and Thor: Love and Thunder. Key topics Why governments keep some UAP footage classified: The hosts discuss the Navy denying a FOIA request for more UA

Andrew’s considering a move from LA to San Francisco–even though he’s totally work-from home. What’s his anxiety around moving and being closer to his cutting-edge job? Send your project questions/ideas to [email protected], subject line “After Things.” Picks: Brian: The Rehearsal Bryce: Slime Rancher

The episode opens with a discussion of Westworld and how rewatching earlier seasons changes the experience, followed by a broader complaint about storytelling that relies too much on surprises. The hosts pitch prequel-style ideas for Westworld and Jurassic Park before moving into a long segment on the scrubbed Artemis launch, including the failed wet dress rehearsals, valve and thermal-alignment problems, and the larger political and engineering mess behind the SLS program. A large middle section turns to Rocket Lab’s planned Photon mission to Venus, including discussion of using a probe and MIT work to scan cloud vapors for signs of life, plus speculation about extremophile biology and possible practical applications if Venus life existed. The show then wanders through stories about an Arctic Ford F-150 retrieval, StoryFile and digital memorials, therapy and AI-assisted therapy, and ends with TV and film recommendations including House of the Dragon, What We Do in the Shadows, Hellraiser, and Andrew’s book pick Eversion. Key topics Westworld rewatch and prequel ideas: Andrew says he rewatched season one and two and appreciated the themes more in sequence, and the group complains about overusing twists. Andrew then pitches prequel-style stories for the early days of Westworld and Jurassic Park. Artemis launch scrub and SLS criticism: The hosts discuss the scrubbed Artemis launch, the failed wet dress rehearsals, valve and temperature issues, and the long-running political com

Long-time listener Joe Diamond writes in and asks about his EPK–electronic press kit. What works and what improvements can you make when presenting yourself in a freeform brochure of your own design? Send your project questions/ideas to [email protected], subject line “After Things.”

The episode opens with a long discussion about Mars agriculture: the hosts speculate on what the first plant grown on Mars should be, with guesses like lichen, moss, mold, and grain before turning to research suggesting alfalfa as an early crop. Bryce explains that simulated Martian soil let alfalfa grow without added fertilizer and could enrich regolith for later crops, but the hosts note major obstacles such as salinity and the need for fresh water or water purification. The conversation then ranges into terraforming ideas, including Elon Musk-associated proposals like nukes over the poles and redirecting a water-rich comet, followed by a speculative riff on lunar lava tubes as habitable spaces and a fictional moon settlement inspired by The Diamond Age. Later segments cover ancient warning markers and the Hunger Stones exposed by drought, the exposure of other relics in European rivers, a comedic improv-style zoo investigation of a disconnected 911 call that ends with a capuchin monkey holding the phone, and the hosts' closing recommendations for South Park's 25th anniversary concert, She-Hulk, The Rehearsal, and Vought's Deep Thoughts with the Deep. Key topics Mars starter crops and soil remediation: The hosts discuss alfalfa as a first crop on Mars because it can grow in simulated Martian soil without fertilizer and help improve regolith for later planting. They also mention turnips, radishes, and lettuces as successful follow-up crops, while stressing water and salinity