Grow Everything Biotech Podcast

Why do promising discoveries sometimes get stuck between the lab bench and the real world? In this episode of Grow Everything, hosts Erum Azeez Khan and Karl Schmieder speak with Transfer AI cofounders Anne Marie Wagner and Renee Wegrzyn about the hidden steps that make scientific experiments difficult to reproduce and transfer. Drawing on their experience at Ginkgo Bioworks, DARPA and the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health, they explain how cameras, environmental sensors and AI can capture the practical knowledge scientists rarely write down, helping teams understand which variations matter. The conversation explores reproducibility, technology transfer, investment risk, scientific creativity and a future where better data helps researchers bring discoveries to patients and the bioeconomy.

Grow Everything brings the bioeconomy to life. Hosts Karl Schmieder and Erum Azeez Khan share stories and speak with the leaders and innovators using biology to change the world. Biology is the world’s oldest technology, and it can be engineered. So, what are we growing?

Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.messaginglab.com/groweverything⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Chapters:

• (00:00:00) - AI drug discovery and the pace of biological research
• (00:07:00) - Meet Transfer AI cofounders Anne Marie Wagner and Renee Wegrzyn
• (00:14:00) - Why scientific protocols miss the details that matter
• (00:21:00) - How physical AI observes scientists without disrupting their work
• (00:28:00) - From lab observations to reproducible experiments and technology transfer
• (00:35:00) - Why physical execution is a biotech bottleneck
• (00:42:00) - Cofounder leadership and solving real customer pain
• (00:49:00) - Investor diligence and protecting teams from distractions
• (00:56:00) - Magic hands, rapid fire questions and the future of science
• (01:03:00) - What’s next on Grow Everything

Links and Resources:

• Transyr AI
• Renee Wegrzyn 
• Anna Marie Wagner
• Transfyr Launches Physical AI Platform for Science with $25M Seed Funding
• How a former ARPA-H director’s startup is tackling AI’s ‘dumb problems’
• OpenAI, PerturbAI⁠, and Scripps Research used thousands of AI agents with GPT‑Rosalind to analyze existing experimental data in just 32 minutes
• 35. Unlocking the Gene-ius of AI-Powered Biology: Teselagen's Eduardo Abeliuk 
• 172. Generating Needles in Haystacks: Elise de Reus Designs Proteins with Cradle
• 2. The Biotech Century with Megan Palmer
• Grow everything LinkedIn

Topics Covered:

physical AI for science, AI in biology labs, lab reproducibility, scientific knowledge transfer, biotech tech transfer, lab automation, experimental protocol optimization, AI-powered lab monitoring, biomanufacturing scale-up, scientific data capture

Have a question or comment? Message us here:

Text or Call (804) 505-5553

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Music by: Nihilore

Production by: Amplafy Media

What does it take to turn industrial carbon dioxide into useful chemicals at a price the market will accept? On Grow Everything, Karl Schmieder and Erum Azeez Khan speak with Max Kufner, cofounder and CEO of Again, about using gas fermentation to make acetate and other products from industrial emissions. Max explains why feedstock economics and locating production close to customers matter, what the acquisition of Genomatica brings to Again, and why real production data is essential for predicting whether a bioprocess can work at industrial scale. He also shares how customer demand, licensing, project finance, and partnerships can help move biotechnology from the lab into the real world. Before the interview, the hosts explore an AI assisted biomanufacturing class and the latest discussion around deextinction.

Grow Everything brings the bioeconomy to life. Hosts Karl Schmieder and Erum Azeez Khan share stories and speak with the leaders and innovators using biology to change the world. Biology is the world’s oldest technology, and it can be engineered. So, what are we growing?

Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.messaginglab.com/groweverything

Chapters:

• (00:00:00) - Biology, public engagement, and biomanufacturing education
• (00:05:00) - AI agents and cell free protein experiments
• (00:10:00) - Deextinction, the moa, and biotechnology
• (00:15:00) - Max Kufner on turning carbon dioxide into chemicals
• (00:20:00) - From venture capital to building Again
• (00:26:00) - Industrial bioreactors and manufacturing at the source
• (00:32:00) - Financing biotechnology scale with customer partnerships
• (00:38:00) - Building biomanufacturing facilities in the US and Europe
• (00:44:00) - Climate tech quick fire: engineers, finance, and teamwork
• (00:50:00) - Founder takeaways: customer demand and cost parity

Links and Resources:

• Again Bio.
• Max Kufner LinkedIn
• Startup, Again: Turning CO₂ Emissions into Carbon-negative Chemicals
• Again acquires Geno to combine AI-driven discovery with industrial biomanufacturing
• Colossal, who de-extincted the dire wolf, now hatches chicks from artificial egg to help de-extinct moa
• 113. Microbe Mission Possible: Noah Helman Discusses iMicrobes' Quest to Turn Waste into Wealth
• 170. There's a Bug for That: Sophia Xu on CarbonBridge's Notebook Bioreactors
• 102. Waste into WOW! Cemvita's Moji Karimi on Turning Carbon Problems into Golden Opportunities
• Grow everything LinkedIn 

Topics Covered:

biomanufacturing, AI x bio, climate tech, green chemicals, sustainable manufacturing, industrial biotechnology, biotech scale-up, deep tech financing, carbon-negative products, alternative chemicals

Have a question or comment? Message us here:

Text or Call (804) 505-5553

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Music by: Nihilore

Production by: Amplafy Media

Michael Wright, founder of Biomimetics International, joins Grow Everything to explain how learning from nature can reshape the way we design products, build businesses, and scale emerging industries. Drawing on decades in semiconductors and high technology, he describes biomimetics as learning from nature’s tested systems, from burr inspired Velcro to shark skin that reduces drag, while emphasizing that copying a biological function is not enough if a product cannot return safely to the biosphere. He introduces the Biosverse, nature’s third number, and generational cost of ownership as ways to account for environmental liabilities that traditional business models may overlook. The conversation explores how digital and biological systems converge, why biotech can learn from semiconductor standards and roadmaps, how AI might benefit from a more nurturing and accountable design approach, and why leaders should ask, “Do you know what you do does?” Michael’s vision is a mindset shift that brings nature into the design process before we build, then measures whether innovations can serve communities and remain compatible with the living world.

Grow Everything brings the bioeconomy to life. Hosts Karl Schmieder and Erum Azeez Khan share stories and speak with the leaders and innovators using biology to change the world. Biology is the world’s oldest technology, and it can be engineered. So, what are we growing?

Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.messaginglab.com/groweverything⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Chapters:

• (00:00:00) Grow Everything opening and biotech headlines, from fall foliage to food systems for Mars
• (00:07:00) FDA inspections, peptide manufacturing, and the importance of knowing where products come from
• (00:14:00) Michael Wright’s semiconductor career and the path to biomimetics
• (00:21:00) How digital and biological systems converge, from precision agriculture to digital water
• (00:28:00) The Biosverse, biosphere compatibility, and nature’s third number
• (00:35:00) Generational impact, executive decisions, and long term costs
• (00:42:00) What biotech can learn from semiconductor roadmaps, standards, and shared infrastructure
• (00:49:00) AI as a mom, biological sensing, and symbiotic decision making
• (00:56:00) Michael’s dream project: a mindset shift toward looking at nature first
• (01:03:00) Quick fire questions, the episode debrief, and designing data centers with nature in mind

Episode Links:

• Biomimetics International
• Michael Wright
• The Exponential Era by David Espindola and Michael Wright
• NASA Mars to Table Challenge
• Fall foliage tracker in NY
• Black mold, bugs found at Chinese plants making GLP-1 compounding agents
• Cemvita and Roebling Partner to Accelerate Industrial BioSolutions From Discovery to Deployment
• 199. Space, the Final Fermenter: Mario Maggio Brews Biology in Orbit with Ambrosia Space
• 156. When Matter Makes Decisions: Michael Levin on the Intelligence of Form
• 133. Funding, Frameworks & Frenemies: Dr. Angela Belcher of NSCEB Gets Real on the $15B Biotech Boost Plan
• 71. Squid Pro Quo: Tandem Repeat's Melik Demirel Reinvents Clothing with Squitex

• Grow everything LinkedIn 

Topics Covered:

biomimetics, bio-inspired design, biosphere compatibility, generational cost of ownership, nature-inspired materials, biomimicry in engineering, sustainable data centers, AI and biomimicry, biomimetics industry standards, circular materials

Have a question or comment? Message us here:

Text or Call (804) 505-5553

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Music by: Nihilore

Production by: Amplafy Media

At Bio Innovations in Omaha and an adjacent investor gathering in Houston, Grow Everything hosts Karl Schmieder and Erum Azeez Khan unpack the shift reshaping the bioeconomy: scientific discovery is becoming faster and less expensive, while deployment, scale up, and durable partnerships have become the real competitive advantage. They share conversations from the conference floor on the missing middle between bench science and commercial production, the Midwest’s feedstock and infrastructure advantage, the need for early technoeconomic discipline, and how corporates can give innovators clearer demand and specification targets. From pilot facilities and downstream processing to waste to value opportunities and resilient domestic supply chains, this recap maps the practical work required to turn biological innovation into products that matter.

Grow Everything brings the bioeconomy to life. Hosts Karl Schmieder and Erum Azeez Khan share stories and speak with the leaders and innovators using biology to change the world. Biology is the world’s oldest technology, and it can be engineered. So, what are we growing?

Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.messaginglab.com/groweverything⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Chapters:

• (00:00:00) Halloween, food dyes, and a motel room microbiology discovery
• (00:05:29) The fire microbe and the promise of extremophiles for manufacturing
• (00:07:46) AI agents, scientific discovery, and physical laboratories
• (00:14:43) Bio Innovations recap: Omaha infrastructure meets Houston capital
• (00:18:00) Discovery is cheaper, but deployment is the whole game
• (00:22:24) The missing middle: pilots, ecosystems, and the valley of do
• (00:26:45) Business models, corporate demand clarity, and consumer framing
• (00:34:40) Scale up lessons: feasibility, downstream processing, and tech transfer
• (00:42:28) Waste to value, bioeconomic resilience, and what comes next

Links and Resources:

• Bioinnovations

• Steve Bray - TritenIAG
• Phillip Crawford -Roebling
• Mike Glasspool - Merrick
• Kyle Pomraning - Pacific Northwest National Lab
• Gatorade recall across 37 states in the U.S.
• Scientist discovered two new species of bacteria from a motel room they converted into a lab
• Incendiamoeba cascadensis. This 'fire amoeba' pushes the limit of what's possible for complex life
• Claude discovers a novel enzyme system with CRISPR-like repeats
• C5R Built a Research Lab Run by AI in 12 Weeks.
• 164. From Plasmids to Pallets: How Erin Marasco Scales Biology at Cargill
• 165. Biology Behind the Brands: Inside P&G’s Two-Century Story
• 166. The Great Reformulation: Joshua Lachter Rethinks How We Make Everything at Scale
• 102. Waste into WOW! Cemvita's Moji Karimi on Turning Carbon Problems into Golden Opportunities

Topics Covered:

autonomous labs, laboratory robotics, AI in biotechnology, synthetic biology, bioengineering, biological automation, data as a service, biotech infrastructure, cell engineering, programmable biology

Have a question or comment? Message us here:

Text or Call (804) 505-5553

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Music by: Nihilore 

Production by: Amplafy Media

Genoa Ventures founder and managing director Jenny Rooke joins Karl Schmieder and Erum Azeez to explore bioconvergence, the expanding frontier where biology meets AI, automation, materials science, and real world business building. Drawing on her journey from physics and genetics to venture capital, Jenny explains why durable bio based companies must pair novel science with clear customer demand, disciplined scale up, and a path to meaningful commercial value. The conversation examines lessons from early synthetic biology, the realities of biomanufacturing at scale, next generation clinical assessment tools, and why founders working between traditional tech and biotech categories need investors who understand both.

Grow Everything brings the bioeconomy to life. Hosts Karl Schmieder and Erum Azeez Khan share stories and speak with the leaders and innovators using biology to change the world. Biology is the world’s oldest technology, and it can be engineered. So, what are we growing?

Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.messaginglab.com/groweverything⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Chapters:

• (00:00:00) Climate Week, bioliteracy, and biology as a climate solution
• (00:03:00) America’s Living Library Act and the case for sampling public lands
• (00:07:00) State microbes, public engagement, and the future of bioliteracy
• (00:10:00) Erum’s biomanufacturing course and designing food safe colors
• (00:15:00) Introducing Jenny Rooke and Genoa Ventures
• (00:17:00) From physics and genetics to investing in science based companies
• (00:20:00) The Genoa sail: founder autonomy, trust, and avoiding fatal mistakes
• (00:22:00) What defines a bioconvergence company
• (00:24:00) Why biotechnology needs a broader frame than pharma
• (00:26:00) Lessons from synthetic biology’s first wave and the impact of AI
• (00:28:00) Matching company timelines to biology, markets, and venture returns
• (00:29:00) The future of clinical assessment tools and actionable health data
• (00:32:00) Diagnostics, consumer data, and the difference between insight and infotainment
• (00:34:00) Why bio based businesses can offer investors a different risk profile
• (00:37:00) Why industrial biotechnology companies fail and what scale up requires
• (00:40:00) Biomanufacturing, commercial readiness, and Genoa’s newest investment
• (00:42:00) What Genoa is watching across tools, biology, and manufacturing
• (00:45:00) Jenny’s four word credo and the founder mindset
• (00:48:00) Closing reflections on bioconvergence and building the bioeconomy

Links and Resources:

• Genoa Ventures
• Jenny Rooke LinkedIn
• Genoa Ventures LinkedIn
• JPM 2026: Genoa Ventures’ Jenny Rooke on Next-Gen Clinical Assessment Tools
• Graveyard report - First Bite Ventures
• 3 States Have Official State Microbes 
• National Security Commission of Emerging Biotech

Topics Covered:

bioconvergence, deep tech venture capital, synthetic biology investing, biomanufacturing, life science tools, clinical diagnostics, industrial biotech, bioeconomy

Have a question or comment? Message us here:

Text or Call (804) 505-5553

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Music by: Nihilore 

Production by: Amplafy Media

Michael Heltzen, CEO of Exozymes, joins Grow Everything to explain how cell free biomanufacturing is opening new possibilities for natural products, nutraceuticals, and medicines. Michael shares why engineered enzymes can make high purity molecules without relying on living cells, how Exozymes moved its NCT program from discovery toward commercial manufacturing in less than two years, and why its capital light partnership model is central to scaling impact. The conversation also explores AI guided enzyme design, digital twins for manufacturing, rare cannabinoids, downstream processing, and the disciplined focus required to turn a broad biotechnology platform into real products.

Grow Everything brings the bioeconomy to life. Hosts Karl Schmieder and Erum Azeez Khan share stories and speak with the leaders and innovators using biology to change the world. Biology is the world’s oldest technology, and it can be engineered. So, what are we growing?

Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.messaginglab.com/groweverything⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Chapters:

• (00:00:00) Michael Heltzen and the Exozymes mission
• (00:05:00) Why cell free manufacturing can unlock inaccessible natural products
• (00:10:00) Combining molecular biology, computation, and AI guided enzyme design
• (00:15:00) From laboratory platform to industrial scale production
• (00:20:00) Commercial partnerships and the NCT market opportunity
• (00:25:00) Rare cannabinoids and a new toolkit for medicinal chemistry
• (00:30:00) The capital light licensing model for biomanufacturing
• (00:35:00) Downstream processing, purity, and investor skepticism
• (00:40:00) The future of sustainable enzyme driven chemical manufacturing
• (00:45:00) Key takeaways on focus, partnerships, and platform innovation

Links and Resources:

• eXoZymes⁠
• eXoZymes Awarded $2 Million NIH Grant to Advance Cannabinoid Analogs for Drug Discovery
• ⁠eXoZymes’ Cell-Free Biomanufacturing Platform Gets Positive Feedback from Cayman Chemical⁠
• Michael Heltzen LinkedIn
• ⁠eXoZymes on LinkedIn⁠
• 129. No Cells? No Problem! eXoZymes' Michael Heltzen on the Future of Microbe-Free Biotech
• 176. Dare to Commercialize: Damien Perriman’s eXoZymes Playbook
• 51. Cell-Free, Problem-Free: Enzyme Alchemy with Alex Rosay at Cascade Biocatalysts
• 85. Always Be Brewing: Continuous Fermentation with Cauldron's Michele Stansfield

Topics Covered:

cell-free biomanufacturing, enzyme engineering, exozymes, biosynthesis, cannabinoids, NCT (N-trans-caffeoyltyramine), synthetic biology, AI-driven enzyme design, scalable bioproduction, sustainable chemicals

Have a question or comment? Message us here:

Text or Call (804) 505-5553

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Music by: Nihilore 

Production by: Amplafy Media

For the 200th episode of Grow Everything, Karl Schmieder and Erum Azeez Khan talk with Jason Kelly, co-founder and CEO of Ginkgo Bioworks and former chair of the US National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology, about why biology is still so hard to engineer. Jason explains why a cell is the only coded substrate we have besides a computer, why the real bottleneck is tooling rather than ideas, and why Ginkgo moved from royalty based research partnerships to selling robotic hardware and lab data as a service. Using a subway, car and Waymo analogy, he separates automation from autonomy and makes the case for replacing the manual lab bench, which eats roughly 97 percent of research spending while running 40 hours out of 168. He walks through Ginkgo's Boston system of 105 robots running 24/7, new autonomous labs for MIT, Caltech, Northwestern and the University of Maryland, and the OpenAI project where GPT-5 ran 30,000 experiments a week and beat state of the art in cell free protein synthesis by 40 percent. He also lays out the policy stakes as drug discovery shifts to China, and why the day biology becomes predictably easier to engineer, biotech gets bigger than tech.

Grow Everything brings the bioeconomy to life. Hosts Karl Schmieder and Erum Azeez Khan share stories and speak with the leaders and innovators using biology to change the world. Biology is the world’s oldest technology, and it can be engineered. So, what are we growing?

Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.messaginglab.com/groweverything⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Chapters:

• (00:00:00) A cell is a machine that can do a million other things
• (00:07:00) AI data centers, contamination, and the waste to value opportunity
• (00:14:00) Biosecurity, guardrails, and who is accountable for AI in biology
• (00:21:00) Ginkgo's mission: programming a computer you did not design
• (00:28:00) Why Ginkgo reset its business model from royalties to tools and data
• (00:34:00) Subway, car, Waymo: what an autonomous lab actually means
• (00:41:00) Inside Nebula: 105 robots, 24/7 lab work, and autonomous labs for MIT and Caltech
• (00:47:00) The end of experimental scarcity and what scientists do next
• (00:54:00) Offshoring biotech to China and the policy fix Jason wants
• (01:01:00) Simulating cells, Moore's law for biology, and the markets beyond pharma

Links and Resources:

• Gingko Bioworks
• Gingko Bioworks - Automation product 
• Jason Kelly linkedin
• Ginkgo Bioworks Joins ARPA-H GIVE Program to Build Autonomous Manufacturing System for Individualized RNA Medicines
• National Security Commission on Emerging Biotech
• Singapore is building supercomputer that runs on human brain cells
• Water in Wyoming data center contaminated with cupriavidus gilardii
• 112. The Baked-In Future of Science: Nick Edwards on Potato AI’s Quest to Become Your AI Scientist
• 5. Dreaming in Biology: Tales from the Ginkgo Bioworks Studio
• 50. The Dye-Hard Innovator: Natsai Chieza Designs Change for the Fashion Industry and the World

Topics Covered:

autonomous labs, laboratory robotics, AI in biotechnology, synthetic biology, bioengineering, biological automation, data as a service, biotech infrastructure, cell engineering, programmable biology

Have a question or comment? Message us here:

Text or Call (804) 505-5553

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Music by: Nihilore 

Production by: Amplafy Media

Biology may be the most important technology we take off planet, and Mario Maggio is building the hardware to prove it. The founder and CEO of Ambrosia Space joins Erum Azeez Khan and Karl Schmieder to explain why space bioprocessing has been stuck at 10 to 20 milliliters while bench scientists on Earth work at 250 milliliters and beyond, and what changes when a two and a half liter fed batch bioreactor with pH, dissolved oxygen, and total cell density sensors finally flies. Mario traces his path from aerospace propulsion and the Nova C lunar lander at Intuitive Machines to life support systems at Paragon and Axiom Space, and the realization that biology is the best CO2 scrubber, oxygen source, and chemical factory available for long duration missions where petroleum, farms, and easy resupply do not exist. The conversation digs into the engineering reality of fluids and gas in microgravity, why glass and ceramics never fly, the stainless steel and aluminum builds that replace them, the intentional and unintentional bacteria that come with building a bioreactor from scratch, and the NASA TechLeap winning CellSep continuous flow centrifuge that carries cells and secreted products into downstream processing without gravity. Mario also lays out the near term commercial case, from protein crystallization and monoclonal antibodies that behave differently in orbit to biofuels, vitamin production, medicines, and the big silver tanks that will feed astronauts because there will be no farms or cattle. He offers a candid read on artificial gravity gradients, why the Moon matters for building large vehicles in space, and why the same hardware that grows yeast for beer on Mars becomes the root of better biomanufacturing on Earth. Erum and Karl open with field notes from Bio Innovations North America in Omaha, including Midwest feedstock advantage, consortia momentum, the 30 percent of cost hiding in downstream processing, and why Smucker and Mars are actively scouting biotech innovators.

Grow Everything brings the bioeconomy to life. Hosts Karl Schmieder and Erum Azeez Khan share stories and speak with the leaders and innovators using biology to change the world. Biology is the world’s oldest technology, and it can be engineered. So, what are we growing?

Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.messaginglab.com/groweverything⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Chapters:

• (00:00:00) Why Biology Is the Best Commercial Case for Space
• (00:04:52) Bio Innovations North America and the Midwest Bioeconomy
• (00:07:21) Why Smucker and Mars Are Scouting Biotech Innovators
• (00:11:42) Inside Ambrosia Space: Bioreactors Built for Orbit
• (00:15:24) Scaling Past 150 Milliliters: Space Biology's Volume Problem
• (00:18:12) Stainless Steel, Leaks, and Why Glass Never Flies
• (00:21:36) NASA TechLeap and the CellSep Continuous Flow Centrifuge
• (00:26:08) Protein Crystals and Monoclonal Antibodies Made in Microgravity
• (00:31:22) Artificial Gravity, Lunar Bases, and Closing the Loop on Life Support
• (00:36:12) Quick Fire: Space Food Reality, HAL, and Biologics in Orbit

Links and Resources:

• Mario Maggio
• Ambrosia Space LinkedIn
• Ambrosia Space
• 111. Space Genes and Subway Scenes: Chris Mason on Planning Life’s Next Big Leap
• 93. Houston, We Have a Protocol: NASA's Kate Rubins on Biotech in Space
• 187. One Small Step for a Microbe: Lynn Rothschild’s Leap from Astrobiology to Bioengineering at NASA
• 185. Brick Happens: Chris Maurer of Redhouse Studio Redesigns Remote Living for Earth and Mars
• 152. Crystals in the Cosmos: Varda Rewrites Drug Formulation in Microgravity
• Grow Everything LinkedIn

Topics Covered:

space biomanufacturing, Ambrosia Space, orbital bioreactors, microgravity biotechnology

Have a question or comment? Message us here:

Text or Call (804) 505-5553

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Grow Everything⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Music by: Nihilore 

Production by: Amplafy Media

Chef and entrepreneur Pierre Thiam joins Grow Everything to explain how fonio, a resilient ancient grain from West Africa, can become a platform for biodiversity, regenerative agriculture, food security, and farmer prosperity. Pierre traces his journey from studying physics and chemistry to discovering the kitchen as a larger system connecting culture, health, ecology, and economics. He shares why fonio is nutritionally dense, gluten free, drought resistant, fast cooking, and versatile, as well as how Yolélé is building aggregation centers and modern processing infrastructure while keeping cultivation knowledge and ownership with smallholder farming communities. The conversation explores how biotechnology can complement biodiversity, why flavor must lead climate friendly food adoption, how underutilized crops can create clean label ingredients and new commercial markets, and why food can serve as a powerful tool for diplomacy and cultural understanding. For founders, scientists, investors, and builders in the bioeconomy, Pierre offers a human centered model of innovation that begins with nature, respects generational knowledge, and uses technology to unlock solutions that have been in front of us all along.

Grow Everything brings the bioeconomy to life. Hosts Karl Schmieder and Erum Azeez Khan share stories and speak with the leaders and innovators using biology to change the world. Biology is the world’s oldest technology, and it can be engineered. So, what are we growing?

Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.messaginglab.com/groweverything⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Chapters:

• (00:00:00) Why flavor must lead sustainable food adoption
• (00:07:00) Artificial intelligence for science and protein design
• (00:14:00) Pierre Thiam connects cooking, chemistry, culture, and diplomacy
• (00:21:00) What fonio tastes like and why chefs love its versatility
• (00:28:00) Scaling fonio through farmer centered supply chains and global markets
• (00:35:00) Human centered design for West African farming communities
• (00:42:00) Delicious first: the strategy behind climate friendly food adoption
• (00:49:00) Biodiversity, forgotten crops, and the future of food security
• (00:56:00) How biotechnology and local knowledge can work together
• (01:02:00) Building healthier diets and stronger farming communities

Links and Resources:

• Chef Pierre Thiam
• Teranga - Senegalese Restaurant
• Yolélé Foods
• The Fonio Cookbook
• Chief Pierre Thiam Instagram
• 197. What’s in Your Cart? A Grocery Store Walkthrough of Next-Gen Food Innovation
• 196. Beyond the Red Tape: Greg Jaffe on Policy as an Accelerator for Bio-Innovation
• New Evidence points to ‘Ghost DNA’
• Claude opens 10,000 free seats to scientists
• David Kong's class - How To Grow Almost Anything
• BioInnovations Events - For 25% off use code: Grow Everything
• Grow Everything LinkedIn

Topics Covered:

Fonio, West African cuisine, sustainable food systems, regenerative agriculture, food biodiversity, underutilized crops, food diplomacy, Bambara groundnuts, climate-resilient crops, Yolélé

Have a question or comment? Message us here:

Text or Call (804) 505-5553

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Grow Everything⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Music by: Nihilore 

Production by: Amplafy Media

Food technology is moving from farms and petrochemicals into bioreactors, fungi, engineered crops, and circular feedstocks. In this Grow Everything highlights episode, Erum Azeez and Karl Schmieder visit six stops across the grocery store to explore sweet proteins from Oobli, fermentation derived colorants from MycoFutures and Chromologics, the antioxidant rich purple tomato from Norfolk Healthy Produce, fungi based proteins from The Better Meat Co. and MyForest Foods, sargassum derived ingredients from Origin by Ocean, and the hard commercial work of getting emerging products onto retail shelves. For founders, scientists, investors, and builders across synthetic biology and sustainable materials, the central lesson is clear: fermentation is manufacturing, environmental problems can become valuable feedstocks, and biology wins when performance, taste, branding, and price are better for the customer.

Grow Everything brings the bioeconomy to life. Hosts Karl Schmieder and Erum Azeez Khan share stories and speak with the leaders and innovators using biology to change the world. Biology is the world’s oldest technology, and it can be engineered. So, what are we growing?

Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.messaginglab.com/groweverything⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Chapters:

• (00:00:00) Food technology innovations hidden across the grocery store
• (00:01:57) Why fermentation should be understood as manufacturing
• (00:03:02) Oobli sweet proteins replace sugar with tiny amounts of protein
• (00:04:35) Fermentation creates powerful natural colors for food brands
• (00:06:20) The purple tomato brings biotechnology into the produce aisle
• (00:08:11) The Better Meat Co. grows nutrient rich mycoprotein in bioreactors
• (00:09:54) MyForest Foods turns oyster mushroom mycelium into bacon
• (00:11:15) Origin by Ocean transforms invasive sargassum into useful ingredients
• (00:12:34) Startup CPG explains what gets emerging brands onto shelves
• (00:13:50) Why biology must compete on taste, price, branding, and performance

Links and Resources:

• 22. Sweet Dreams Are Made of Proteins: Oobli's Ali Wing
• 180. Fungi in Full Color: Ricky Cassini Reimagines Dye at Michroma
• 181. Can Hue Believe It? Gerit Tolborg’s Quest for Pure Color at Chromologics
• 33. Purple Reign, A Purple Tomato with a Genetic Twist, Nathan Pumplin of Norfolk Healthy Produce
• 157. (Thanksgiving Replay) Meat the Future: How Paul Shapiro is Brewing Superfoods at Better Meat Co.
• 126. Sizzling Success: Eben Bayer of MyForest Foods on Scaling Mycelium Magic
• 175. Seaweed Is the New Oil: Mari Granström Builds Origin by Ocean
• 167. From Scrappy to Scalable: Daniel Scharff Grows Startup CPG
• BioInnovations Events - For 25% off use code: Grow Everything
• Grow Everything LinkedIn

Topics Covered:

Food technology is moving from farms and petrochemicals into bioreactors, fungi, engineered crops, and circular feedstocks. In this Grow Everything highlights episode

Have a question or comment? Message us here:

Text or Call (804) 505-5553

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Grow Everything⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Music by: Nihilore 

Production by: Amplafy Media