Down to Earth with Terry Virts

Join host Terry Verch in "Down to Earth" as he engages in a thought-provoking conversation with Ben Jones, a prominent freelance election expert and advisor to leading election observation organizations. In this episode, they delve into the world of elections, disinformation challenges, and the growing influence of China and Russia. With firsthand experience from election missions and a deep understanding of the impact of technology and online information, Ben shares valuable insights on the importance of running elections ethically and the consequences of misinformation. Discover how these global forces shape our societies and explore the crucial role of independent journalism in combating disinformation. Gain a fresh perspective on the complex dynamics at play as they discuss strategies to protect democratic systems and promote informed decision-making in an era of evolving challenges. https://terryvirts.com/ Twitter: @AstroTerry Instagram: astro_terry

In this episode: Nicholas Wade is a science journalist who has written for publications such as the New York Times, Nature, and Science throughout his more than four-decade career. Wade recently testified about the lab leak hypothesis to the House Select Subcommittee on Coronavirus Pandemic and recommends listening to that testimony. The origin of the coronavirus became politicized from the beginning, but it should be a purely scientific issue that people of all political affiliations would want to understand. The theory behind gain-of-function research is that scientists can get ahead of nature by studying deadly viruses and creating vaccines to prepare for potential outbreaks in the future. https://terryvirts.com/ Twitter: @AstroTerry Instagram: astro_terry

In this episode, we have Robert Auers, a refinery modeller and refined fuels market analyst at RBN Energy, to shed light on the value chain and technical complexities involved in the industry. Join us as we delve into the upstream, midstream, and downstream processes of the oil and gas industry, including the production methods, used to extract oil and gas from the ground. We also discuss the importance of understanding the value chain, as it affects the prices of various products in the market. In addition, we touch on the topic of NGLs, or natural gas liquids, which are an important component of the industry. These liquids are more valuable than natural gas but less valuable than crude oil, and their processing involves technical complexities such as removing sulfur from the products and reducing its specification. Tune in to this episode to gain insights into the oil and gas industry and its technicalities, and to learn about the challenges and opportunities it presents. Twitter: @AstroTerry Instagram: astro_terry

In this podcast episode, Terry engages in a lively debate with Maciej Ceglowski about whether or not humans should venture to Mars. They discuss the biggest obstacles and challenges that we would face in making such a journey, along with other related questions. Tune in to hear their insightful perspectives and arguments. Twitter: @AstroTerry Instagram: astro_terry

Join us for an inspiring conversation with Robin Horsfall, a man who has truly lived a life like no other. Robin's incredible journey has taken him from the British SAS to a successful career in private security, but that's only the beginning. As a black belt in karate, Robin has faced countless challenges and overcome them all with strength and determination. He is also a cancer survivor and an advocate for living life to the fullest. In addition to all of this, Robin is a loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. Don't miss this opportunity to hear from a true hero and learn about his amazing life. https://terryvirts.com/ Twitter: @AstroTerry Instagram: astro_terry

Jaanika Merilo is an advisor to Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister for digital transformation, the former deputy mayor of Dnipro in Ukraine, and a strong advocate of helping the Ukrainian war effort by fundraising for privately donated drones. She is also helping to organize a campaign to bring World Expo 2030 to Odessa. Twitter: @AstroTerry Instagram: astro_terry

Terry talks with George “Saul” Youstra, a former US Army Green Beret and US Air Force Chaplain, including being chaplain to 9 four-star generals and the US Chief of Staff. https://terryvirts.com/ Twitter: @AstroTerry Instagram: astro_terry

Mark and Terry talk AI, Robotics, energy, and the future of technology. https://terryvirts.com/ Twitter: @AstroTerry Instagram: astro_terry

Terry talks to Ryan Clancy from No Labels “Ryan Clancy, chief strategist for No Labels, talks about some unique and innovative ways to save our political system from the extreme left and right, and what might be done to give Americans a viable, centrist candidate in the 2024 presidential election without starting a completely new third party." https://terryvirts.com/ Twitter: @AstroTerry Instagram: astro_terry

Terry talks to Stig Karlsen, the head of the Norwegian delegation to Eurovision, to find out. Stig Karlsen is the lead for the Norwegian delegation to the Eurovision Song Contest, one of the biggest television events on Earth. We talk about what Eurovision is, why it is so important to so many Europeans, how England will be hosting the event this year on behalf of Ukraine, who won last year, and what it takes to put together such a massive production on a global scale. https://terryvirts.com/ Twitter: @AstroTerry Instagram: astro_terry