This week on the Casual Space Podcast, I'm joined by my friend, adventurer, and all-around visionary Jessica DeAngelo — founder of Hike to Become®, author of the international bestseller The Wild Advantage, and the leader behind a movement that encourages us to step outside (literally) to find the clarity, creativity, and calm we keep trying to chase indoors.

Jessica works with leaders from companies like Amazon, Nike, and Uber to help them break out of the boardroom mindset and reconnect with the part of themselves that already knows the answer. Her 31-day outdoor awareness challenge and executive nature-based retreats have helped hundreds of professionals solve complex problems, unlock breakthrough ideas, and return to their work with purpose (and joy!).

In our conversation, we talk about:

• Why your brain actually works better outdoors (and what the science says about it)

• How movement, nature, and curiosity come together to unlock new thinking

• The surprising truth behind burnout — and why "working harder" is the opposite of the solution

• What happens when you finally make space to hear your own ideas again

• The magic that comes from small steps (or walks) taken consistently

This isn't just a conversation about hiking. It's about learning to reclaim the part of ourselves that thrives in wonder, exploration, and stillness — whether that's on a trail, in your neighborhood, or simply stepping away from the demands that never seem to end.

As someone who has hiked with Jessica, learned from her, and taken the Hike to Become challenge myself, I can tell you this: The shift is real. And powerful. You don't have to summit a mountain to rediscover your clarity — you just need to be willing to step outside and listen.

Jessica DeAngelo

• Founder & Chief Hiking Officer of Hike to Become®

• TEDx Speaker

• Executive Retreat Leader & Strategy Facilitator

• Author of The Wild Advantage: Why Your Brain on Nature Is Your Boldest Business Move

• Lover of wide open skies, big ideas, and good snacks

She lives in Boise with her husband and two spirited kiddos who remind her that adventure is always within reach — especially when you're holding a granola bar.

Where to find with Jessica

Website: www.jessicadeangelo.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-deangelo-mba/ Instagram: @hiketobecome

If today's conversation inspires you to get outside — even just for five minutes — then you're already on your way.

Let's go find what's waiting for you out there.

What does life after space look like for an astronaut? For Mike Foreman, it looks like community, connection, and continuing to serve — just a little closer to Earth.

Mike is a retired NASA astronaut, a U.S. Navy veteran, and the current Mayor of Friendswood, Texas. Over the course of two Space Shuttle missions — STS-123 and STS-129 — Mike logged more than 637 hours in space and completed five spacewalks (that's over 32 hours working outside the spacecraft!) helping to deliver and assemble parts of the International Space Station (ISS).

Today, he's using those same lessons from space and service to inspire students, encourage future explorers, and remind us that curiosity, teamwork, and resilience aren't just mission-critical in orbit — they matter right here at home, too. In this episode, Mike joins Beth for an open and inspiring conversation about:

• How seeing Earth from orbit forever changes your perspective, especially orbiting over Australia
• The teamwork behind every NASA mission and why leadership is about trust
• How his journey led from Naval test pilot to astronaut to Mayor

Mike's story is one of lifelong curiosity and service — from flying jets and fixing the ISS to leading a city and mentoring the next generation. His message? Never stop learning, serving, or looking up.

About Mike Foreman:

• NASA Astronaut (Ret.) – Selected in 1998

• Two Space Shuttle Missions: STS-123 (2008) & STS-129 (2009)

• Five Spacewalks: 32 hours, 19 minutes total

• U.S. Navy Captain (Ret.) with more than 7,000 flight hours

• Current Role: Mayor of Friendswood, Texas

• Motivational Speaker on space, STEM, and leadership

Why You'll Love This Episode:

If you've ever wondered how astronauts translate their experiences beyond NASA — or how one person can move from exploring the cosmos to improving their own community — this conversation will leave you inspired.

Mike reminds us that exploration doesn't end when you come home from space. It just changes direction.

WATCH this episode and more Casual Space Podcast conversations on You Tube! https://www.youtube.com/@casualspacepodcast83

Want to share your story with us, so we can send it to space? The deadline for submitting your original story to STORIES of Space MISSION 03 has been extended! Don't miss this last opportunity to launch your story to space in 2025! www.storiesofspace.com

In this exciting new episode of Casual Space, Beth is joined by Alex Martin to share all the details about STORIES of Space MISSION 03, launching soon from Canada's first commercial spaceport in beautiful Nova Scotia!

Together, Beth and Alex talk about what it takes to prepare for this historic suborbital mission — from planning and partnerships to payloads and the people who make it all possible. Listeners will get an insider's look at how stories (your submitted stories) are being sent to space, connecting us all to exploration in a deeply personal and creative way.

They'll also discuss how Maritime Launch Services and T-Minus Engineering are helping make this mission a reality, and how teachers, students, and storytellers can still submit their stories for inclusion on this incredible journey.

In this episode, you'll discover:

• What makes MISSION 03 unique and why it's such a milestone for Canada

• How STORIES of Space is connecting humanity to space exploration through storytelling

• Behind-the-scenes insights from the team preparing for launch

• How you can send your own story to space before the October 31st deadline

Learn more or submit your story: storiesofspace.com

This week on Casual Space, Beth is joined by Alex and Chad for a lively and candid conversation about their unforgettable underwater MISSION 05 STORIES of Space adventure!

Together, Paul, Alex, Chad and Beth took STORIES of Space to new depths—literally—by bringing human stories into an underwater research habitat.

Join us as we swap stories, laughs, and lessons learned from this one-of-a-kind mission. From the early days of planning and unexpected challenges, to the pure joy of exploring together as a team, this episode pulls back the curtain on what it really takes to make exploration happen—above and below the surface.

Discover how storytelling connects us not just to space, but to the incredible environments right here on Earth.

In this episode, we discuss:

• What it's like to bring STORIES of Space underwater for the first time

• The behind-the-scenes logistics and planning that made MISSION 05 possible

• Challenges we didn't expect (and how we tackled them together!)

• The joy of exploration as a team—plus a few fun moments along the way

• Lessons we'll carry forward into future missions

Whether you're a space enthusiast, a fan of exploration, or just love a good behind-the-scenes story, this episode will make you feel like you're part of the crew.

Listen now and dive in with us for MISSION 05!

What if Walt Disney's real magic wasn't perfection…but persistence?

In this episode, Beth takes you behind the myths of creative genius to explore how Disney built through failure, loss, and uncertainty—and why those moments became the foundation for his greatest successes.

From bankruptcy to Mickey, from "Disney's Folly" to Disneyland, Walt's story reminds us that the impossible often starts in the middle of adversity. Beth connects Disney's journey with her own: building Casual Space, launching STORIES of Space, and saying "yes" to dreams long before things felt easy or certain.

This week, discover why you don't have to wait for the perfect time to start. You can lay a foundation—even in the hardest seasons—that carries you (and others!) to new heights.

Because sometimes, the story that feels small today becomes the launchpad for something extraordinary.

It's that time of year for back-to-school! What does that mean for grown-ups and space explorers like us? For me,it means diving into the stack of books that keep me learning, curious, and inspired. As the host of Casual Space Podcast, I'm fortunate enough to receive books from our incredible guests, so sometimes I choose what to read, and other times the stories find their way to me.

Right now, I'm re-reading two standouts so rich with insight that I've taken notes, underlined passages, and even brought some of their wisdom into my work. I believe a book becomes truly powerful when its ideas are shared, and that's where the magic of storytelling begins.

In this episode, I'm sharing my fall reading wish list—from space history to slow productivity—and a few titles that are changing how I think and work. We'll talk Walt Disney, Cal Newport, and the joy of reading as a lifelong companion.

So, what's on your fall reading list? Let's trade recommendations and keep turning the page—together.

Something magical happens when you bring the right people, the right purpose, and one wild idea together — and then take it 30 feet below the ocean's surface.

In this episode, we're celebrating STORIES of Space MISSION 05, where our crew lived for four days in the world's only underwater habitat, Jules' Undersea Lodge. We didn't just bring gear… we brought hundreds of YOUR stories — the same ones that have flown to the International Space Station — and immersed them in an extreme environment to see what new tales would emerge.

I'll share the challenges, the triumphs, and the small, beautiful moments that reminded us why human stories belong wherever humans explore. From malfunctions and midnight laughter to sunbeams dancing like Poseidon's trident, this mission was about more than survival. It was about connection.

You'll hear about: How we became aquanauts carrying your stories to the sea floor 🤝 The crew's teamwork under pressure My personal journey overcoming fear, setbacks, and the "cold, dark unknown" What the ocean taught us about resilience, trust, and the sacredness of human stories

Where We're Headed Next: The sea is just the beginning. From suborbital space flights to lunar adventures, our mission is clear — if humans go there, our stories should too.

Your story matters. Whether you're under the sea, above the Earth, or chasing your dream from home — share it with us. Visit storiesofspace.com to learn how your voice could be part of our next adventure.

In this episode, Beth introduces and personally invites you to join MISSION 05: STORIES of the Sea, the latest adventure from STORIES of Space — and it's unlike anything she's done before. Beth and her crew are heading to Jules' Undersea Facility, to live, work, and explore from beneath the ocean's surface, bringing YOUR stories along with!

Why? Because space and sea have more in common than you might think. Confined environments, exploration, isolation, teamwork — it's a powerful, immersive experience that connects us more deeply to our planet... and to each other.

Here's where you come in: The STORIES of Space team are carrying every story ever received on this mission — from space to sea — and would be honored to bring yours along, too.

Whether it's a short note, a memory, a dream, a white paper, or a heartfelt message about space, the ocean, or what it means to be human — our mission is to carry it with us as we become aquanauts.

Don't wait! Submit your story by July 8 at storiesofspace.comThis is the only underwater mission of the year — and a chance to be part of something that's never been done before.

So let's explore our Earth's oceans and tell this story together! Because exploration begins with the stories we share.

Ever feel like you can't take a break because there's always one more thing to do?

In this heartfelt episode in the abbreviated Summer-ease (summeries) series, host Beth Mund explores the myth of "earning" your time off — and how a much-needed family vacation almost didn't happen because of it.

Tune in as Beth shares:

• The chaotic lead-up to pressing pause on work, life, and laundry

• How her family rediscovered joy, spontaneity, and s'mores (not necessarily in that order)

• Surprising science on why breaks literally make you healthier, happier, and way more creative

• A gentle reminder that time isn't something you earn — it's already yours

Whether you're a parent, a professional, or just someone trying to close 43 tabs in your brain, this episode is your permission slip to breathe, unplug, and maybe even plan that trip you keep putting off.

Listen to learn why leaving your task list behind just might be the smartest thing you do all year- and the science behind why taking that break is SO good for your productivity.

Download this episode. Then listen & get outside.

John A. Read is no stranger to reaching for the stars—both figuratively and literally. Fresh off earning his Master's in Space Systems Engineering from Johns Hopkins (without an undergrad in engineering—yes, really), John joins Beth to explore his fascinating journey from finance to astrophysics, and from a $15 pharmacy telescope to founding Stargaze Nova Scotia, a public dark-sky observatory.

Along the way, John shares how a spark of curiosity from a Chris Hadfield novel launched him into grad school, how he's helping democratize astronomy through smart telescopes and best-selling books, and why his family's space-inspired creative projects continue to inspire new generations of stargazers.

Beth and John also explore the rapid evolution of space tech, investing in emerging space companies, and what celestial sights to look forward to this summer—including a can't-miss list of stellar showstoppers for both casual observers and seasoned skywatchers.

About John A. Read: John is an award-winning astronomy author, YouTuber, and outreach educator whose books—including 50 Things to See with a Telescope—have helped thousands learn to stargaze. His company, Learn to Stargaze, creates accessible astronomy resources and experiences for all ages. John also leads Stargaze Nova Scotia and helps manage the historic Abbey Ridge Observatory, bringing the wonders of the cosmos to the public through tours, events, and online content.

John's family is equally starry-eyed—his wife and daughter create space-themed art and poetry, including the first augmented-reality space poetry book inspired by a trip to orbit!

Mentioned in this episode: 🌌 Stargaze Nova Scotia—a new dark-sky observatory and public stargazing destination 🌌 The Abbey Ridge Observatory Association, bringing real-time views of the cosmos to visitors 📚 50 Things to See with a Telescope series, plus astronomy certification challenges from the Astronomical League and Royal Astronomical Society of Canada 📚 Chris Hadfield's The Apollo Murders, the spark that launched John's latest academic adventure 🚀 Upcoming commercial launches from Maritime Launch at Canso Spaceport 🔭 Affordable smart telescopes like the Celestron C-Star making astrophotography more accessible ⭐ Upcoming celestial highlights: Perseid meteor shower, Lagoon & Swan Nebulae, globular clusters, and more summer stargazing favorites

You can explore more of John's work, books, and stargazing tips at: https://www.learntostargaze.com/ Learn to Stargaze on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/learntostargaze 50 Things to See with a Telescope on Amazon

And if you're near Nova Scotia, keep an eye out for Nova East Star Party and public nights at Stargaze Nova Scotia—because the stars are always better shared.