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In this episode, Erum and Karl unpack six major reports that define the current state of synthetic biology and the bioeconomy. From investment trends to national security concerns, from manufacturing failures to trillion-dollar opportunities, these reports paint a complex picture of an industry at a critical turning point.
Grow Everything brings the bioeconomy to life. Hosts Karl Schmieder and Erum Azeez Khan share stories and interview the leaders and influencers changing the world by growing everything. Biology is the oldest technology. And it can be engineered. What are we growing?
Learn more at www.messaginglab.com/groweverything
Chapters:
Episode Links:
Ig Nobel Prize
SynBioBeta 2025 Investment Report
World Economic Forum’s Report with Capgemini
Advanced Biotech for Sustainability Coalition Report
BIO and Kearney’s Bioeconomy Impact Modelling Report
National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnologies Report
First Bight Ventures to Buy a Manufacturing Graveyard Report
Our Live 150th episode
Alexander Titus' episode
Angela Belcher's episode
Genspace
Break into Biotech
NSF and NVIDIA Partnership
Topics Covered:
natural resources, feedstocks, bioprocessings, biomanufacturing, consumer products and goods, biotech, industry reports
Have a question or comment? Message us here:
Text or Call (804) 505-5553
Instagram/Twitter/LinkedIn/Youtube/Grow Everything
In this special 150th episode of Grow Everything, Erum and Karl broadcast live from the BioFab Fair 2025 in London. They explore the innovative world of biology as technology with special guests Elliot Roth and Amanda (from Mothership Materials), discussing community biotech labs, biopunk culture, and sustainable feedstocks for the bioeconomy.
Chapters:
Episode Links:
Topics Covered:
Biofabricate, Biofab Fair, live recording, 150 episodes, biomaterials, textiles, fabrics, furniture, community biotech, biopunk, cultivation, microbes, bioprocessing, biomanufacturing, waste agriculture
Have a question or comment? Message us here:
Text or Call (804) 505-5553
Instagram / Twitter/ LinkedIn / Youtube/ Grow Everything
This episode explores the journey from scientific breakthrough to scalable industrial implementation. Phil Morle — partner at Main Sequence and co‑founder of Pollenizer — explains how strategic off‑takes generate market pull, the reasons nylon recycling advanced faster than PET, and the orchestration techniques required to progress from First-Of-A-Kind (FOAK) to Next-Of-A-Kind (NOAK) facilities. The conversation covers practical aspects of costs, partnership development, policy incentives, and industrial realities, including Phil's pragmatic test: "if it doesn't need a forklift, it's not relevant."
Chapters:
Episode Links:
- Main Sequence Ventures - https://www.mseq.vc/
- Lululemon & Samsara deal - https://corporate.lululemon.com/media/our-stories/2025/lululemon-and-samsara-eco-announce-10-year-plan-to-advance-recycled-material-portfolio)
- Future of Fungi Awards - https://www.futureisfungi.org/
- **Michele Stansfield Episode** - https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/messaginglab/episodes/85--Always-Be-Brewing-Continuous-Fermentation-with-Cauldrons-Michele-Stansfield-e2lu3kd
Topics Covered:
venture capital, ecosystem orchestration, biotech, australian business
Have a question or comment? Message us here:
Text or Call (804) 505-5553
Instagram/Twitter/LinkedIn/Youtube/Grow Everything
In this episode of Grow Everything, hosts Karl Schmieder and Erum Azeez sit down with Dr. Alessandra Zonari, co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer at OneSkin. Alessandra shares her personal journey from Brazil to biotech, driven by a mission to transform how we think about aging. She explains the science of cellular senescence, the discovery of the groundbreaking OS-1 peptide, and why skin is more than a beauty surface—it’s a window into systemic health and longevity. Listeners will hear candid insights into the challenges of translating biotech discoveries into consumer products, the importance of radical transparency in science communication, and where peptides and personalized skincare fit into the future of the longevity movement. This is a must-listen for anyone passionate about synthetic biology, sustainable innovation, and the science of healthy aging
Grow Everything brings the bioeconomy to life. Hosts Karl Schmieder and Erum Azeez Khan share stories and interview the leaders and influencers changing the world by growing everything. Biology is the oldest technology. And it can be engineered. What are we growing?
Learn more at www.messaginglab.com/groweverything
Chapters:
(00:00:00) Welcome to Grow Everything Podcast
(00:00:18) London's Bio Fab Fair Recap
(00:02:34) Biotech's Bottom Line Impact
(00:05:49) Pharma's Path to Consumer Products
(00:08:00) The Accidental Discovery of Splenda
(00:09:26) Meet Dr. Alessandra Zonari
(00:10:54) A Scientist's Personal Mission
(00:13:15) "Zombie Cells" and Skin Aging
(00:16:30) Longevity Science vs. Marketing
(00:18:28) The Hunt for the OS-01 Peptide
(00:21:39) The Five-Year Path to Market
(00:22:49) Science-First Communication
(00:28:21) The Challenge of Going to Market
(00:31:16) Communicating to Beauty vs. Biotech
(00:33:45) The Future: Personalized Peptides
(00:36:24) Why Science Storytelling Fails
(00:38:42) Advice for Scientist-Founders
(00:40:00) Peptide vs. SPF
(00:40:42) Busting the Biggest Aging Myth
(00:41:11) The Future of Personalized Aging
(00:43:33) Why Aging is "Excited"
(00:44:15) Actress or Astronaut
(00:46:17) Peptides as "Cell Messages"
Episode Links:
Julie wolf episode
OneSkin
Topics Covered:
skincare, cellular senescence, peptides, OneSkin, skin health, anti aging
Have a question or comment? Message us here:
Text or Call (804) 505-5553
What if we could treat debilitating diseases by listening in on the "secret, invisible language" of worms? In this groundbreaking episode, we talk with Dr. Andrea Choe, Co-Founder and CEO of Holoclara, who uncovered a "universal worm language" used for hundreds of millions of years. Dr. Choe reveals how our modern "aggressive hygiene routine" removed the worms we co-evolved with, leading to a rise in allergic and autoimmune diseases. Discover how her team is pioneering a new class of safe, orally available therapies by synthesizing worm-derived molecules that "rebalance" our immune systems and have already blocked disease in animal models. This is a fascinating journey from a fundamental discovery in evolutionary biology to the cutting edge of biotech innovation.
Grow Everything brings the bioeconomy to life. Hosts Karl Schmieder and Erum Azeez Khan share stories and interview the leaders and influencers changing the world by growing everything. Biology is the oldest technology. And it can be engineered. What are we growing?
Learn more at www.messaginglab.com/groweverything
Chapters:
(00:00:00) Welcome to Grow Everything Podcast
(00:00:18) NYC Biotech and Climate Week Recap
(00:08:43) Science News: Comets and Octopuses
(00:15:17) Meet Dr. Andrea Choe
(00:15:52) From Researcher to Founder: The Call to Action
(00:17:25) Discovering the Universal "Worm Language"
(00:25:11) Connecting Worm Secretions to Therapeutics
(00:29:49) How Modern Hygiene Created an Immune Imbalance
(00:34:35) Navigating the Hurdles of Natural Medicine
(00:38:50) Holoclara's Mission to Treat Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE)
(00:42:25) Holoclara's Phase 1 Safety and Trial Results
(00:51:03) Moonshot Vision: A "Worm Atlas" of Molecules
(00:52:28) The Strategy for Patenting Natural Molecules
(00:54:33) Worm Superpowers & Immune Myths
(00:58:25) Reflecting on Nature's Untapped Answers
(01:02:41) Coming Up on Grow Everything
Episode Links:
Holoclara
Human Genome project
Diary of a worm - Doreen Cronin
Wildlife of Our Bodies - Rob Dunn
Suzanne Lee Ep
Glennis Mehra Ep
Ellen Jorgensen Ep
Innolabs
Nucleate
Biolabs NYU Langone
Genspace
Biotech Without Borders
Newlab Climate Week Event - sign up and get tickets now!
Interstellar Comet Moving Through Our Solar System
Topics Covered:
immune system, biotherapeutics, worms, evolution, helminthic immunomodulation, medicine, pharmaceuticals
Have a question or comment? Message us here:
Text or Call (804) 505-5553
Instagram / Twitter / LinkedIn / Youtube / Grow Everything
In this episode of Grow Everything, hosts Karl Schmieder and Erum Azeez talk with Benji Leibowitz, Co-Founder of Pump Science, about what it really means to be “DAO-ing science differently.” From the early days of Molecule DAO to today’s crypto-native platform for funding longevity and nootropics research, Benji explains how decentralized science (DeSci) can rebuild healthcare and biotech from the ground up. By combining bonding curves, tokenized IP, and radical transparency with live-streamed worm and fly experiments, Pump Science is transforming science into an attention game that’s fast, fun, and open to everyone. Tune in to hear how DAO-driven models are unlocking underfunded areas like longevity, attracting crypto investors, and creating a new culture where research is not only transparent but also entertaining.
Grow Everything brings the bioeconomy to life. Hosts Karl Schmieder and Erum Azeez Khan share stories and interview the leaders and influencers changing the world by growing everything. Biology is the oldest technology. And it can be engineered. What are we growing?
Learn more at www.messaginglab.com/groweverything
Chapters:
(00:00:00) Welcome to the Grow Everything Podcast
(00:00:49) Proposed U.S. budget cuts to research
(00:01:59) How jargon fuels skepticism in science
(00:02:25) China's bioeconomy surpassing U.S. in biotech investment
(00:04:31) Rising gut imbalance in infants: My Baby Biome study
(00:06:35) Billionaires investing heavily in longevity research
(00:08:21) Wishing for more entertaining "fun" billionaires
(00:10:26) Meet Benji
(00:13:07) Rebuilding healthcare and biotech from scratch (DeSci)
(00:15:15) From tokenizing biotech IP to Pump Science’s new model
(00:18:09) Focusing on longevity to attract crypto investors
(00:23:56) Optimizing experiments with C. elegans worms
(00:27:47) A high-velocity "casino" model backed by real IP
(00:33:18) Launching compound tokens on a bonding curve
(00:36:36) Funding research through small trading fees
(00:40:34) Gamifying research: rewarding top-performing compounds ("King of the Pill")
(00:43:23) Using live streams for trust and funding transparency (DeSci)
(00:46:35) "Fly races" as entertainment and a longevity indicator
(00:48:56) Excitement for performance enhancement and nootropics (Pump Science)
(00:50:14) Rapid-fire guest Q&A
(00:51:32) Advice for newcomers to Pump Science
(00:53:06) Reflecting on the guest's model for funding science
(00:55:31) DeSci’s potential to build a parallel healthcare system
Episode Links:
Advocate for Science - Contact Your Congressperson
Pump.Science
MoleculeDAO
DeSci 101 Episode
Laura Miniquini Episode
Michael Fisher Episode
Jocelynn Pearl Episode
Albert Anis Episode
Stephanie Culler, Persephone Ep
Momo and Guru - Viome Episode
Map of Longevity Companies Attracting Investor Interest
The Gut Microbiome Protects Infants from Disases
BioFab Fair - Use promo code: GROW10 for a discount to attend!
Topics Covered:
Decentralized science, DAO, longevity, open science, crypto science
Have a question or comment? Message us here:
Text or Call (804) 505-5553
Instagram / Twitter / LinkedIn / Youtube / Grow Everything
In this highlight reel episode of Grow Everything, hosts Erum Azeez and Karl Schmieder dive deep into the rapidly evolving world of decentralized science (DeSci). Featuring expert insights from Albert Anis, Jocelyn Pearl, Michael Fisher, and Laura Minquinin, this episode explores how DeSci is revolutionizing the way research is funded, shared, and governed — far beyond traditional academic systems. You’ll hear how blockchain, bioDAOs, and decentralized funding models are enabling faster, more collaborative innovation across the life sciences. Whether you're a researcher, founder, or biotech enthusiast, this conversation unpacks the tools, values, and infrastructure reshaping the future of scientific discovery. From autonomous agents designing experiments to the Solana-based $BIO token, this episode distills cutting-edge developments into a compelling introduction to the DeSci movement — and why it matters now more than ever.
Grow Everything brings the bioeconomy to life. Hosts Karl Schmieder and Erum Azeez Khan share stories and interview the leaders and influencers changing the world by growing everything. Biology is the oldest technology. And it can be engineered. What are we growing?
Learn more at www.messaginglab.com/groweverything
Chapters:
Episode Links:
Michael Fischer episode
Jocelynn Pearl episode
Albert Anis episode
Laura Minquini episode
How Your Brain’s Nightly Cleanse Keeps It Healthy
DeSci Wiki
BioFab Fair - Use promo code: GROW10 for a discount to attend!
Topics Covered:
biotech beauty, space biotech, skin care, biomanufacturing, longevity, extremophiles
Have a question or comment? Message us here:
Text or Call (804) 505-5553
Instagram / Twitter / LinkedIn / Youtube / Grow Everything
Karl Schmieder and Erum Azeez sit down with Karen Ingram, Creative Director & Designer at Karen Ingram & Associates, Inc. From her iconic Biogenetic Blooms—Petri dish paintings made with living yeast—to her innovative teaching with BioBuilder and playful experiments like Fallacy Bingo, Karen shows how science and creativity can merge to inspire broader engagement with biotechnology. She shares stories from the early Brooklyn biohacker days, reflects on teaching teenagers to think critically about designing life, and explains how art, games, and design can shape the future of the bioeconomy. This is where art truly meets agar—transforming living microbes into canvases and reimagining the possibilities of biodesign.
Grow Everything brings the bioeconomy to life. Hosts Karl Schmieder and Erum Azeez Khan share stories and interview the leaders and influencers changing the world by growing everything. Biology is the oldest technology. And it can be engineered. What are we growing?
Learn more at www.messaginglab.com/groweverything
Chapters:
Links and Resources:
Karen Ingram & Associates Inc.
Biogenetic Blooms
Biobat
Biobuilder - Synthetic Biology in the Lab
Natalie Kuldell
Karen Ingram Substack
Fallacy Bingo
CoLab Futures
Genspace
Caveat - Facts Machine: Science Comedy Trivia Night
TritonBio
Dan Grushkin
Megan Palmer
Casey Lardner
The Patient Will See You Know by Eric Topol
Drivas lab demonstrates the benefit of genetic testing in critically ill adults
Society for the Protection of Underground Networks (SPUN)
BioFab Fair - Use promo code: GROW10 for a discount to attend!
Have a question or comment? Message us here:
Text or Call (804) 505-5553
Instagram / Twitter / LinkedIn / Youtube / Grow Everything
Email: [email protected]
Music by: Nihilore
Production by: Amplafy Media
Hosts Karl Schmieder and Erum Azeez sit down with Dr. Kyle Landry, President and Co-founder of Delavie Sciences, to explore how extremophiles—microbes that survive in the harshest environments on Earth and space—are unlocking new frontiers in skincare and longevity. Kyle shares his unconventional path from food science to biodefense to NASA collaborations, revealing how a microbe that survived 18 months outside the International Space Station became the foundation for a groundbreaking sunscreen ingredient. The conversation dives into longevity science, microbial resilience, the future of skincare as true preventative health, and the entrepreneurial challenge of scaling biotech innovations from test tube to industrial reactors.
Grow Everything brings the bioeconomy to life. Hosts Karl Schmieder and Erum Azeez Khan share stories and interview the leaders and influencers changing the world by growing everything. Biology is the oldest technology. And it can be engineered. What are we growing?
Links and Resources:
Chris Mason Episode
Kate Rubins Episode
Erika DeBenedictis Episode
Lifespan.io
Fight Aging!
Delavie Sciences
David Sinclair’s Novel - Lifespan: Why We Age and Why We Don’t Have To
NASA iTECH
Chapters:
(00:00:00) - Introduction to the episode and the Grow Everything podcast
(00:00:49) - Aging by Biotech NYC event overview
(00:03:35) - Tips on being a great moderator
(00:04:03) - Keys to moderating well: preparation and audience engagement
(00:07:20) - Notable absence of space topics at longevity event
(00:09:40) - Guest introduction: Dr. Kyle Landry and his background
(00:10:13) - Story of how the hosts met Kyle Landry
(00:11:42) - Career journey from food science to skincare
(00:14:27) - Inspiration from space research leading to Delavie Sciences
(00:17:25) - How Delavie’s product works at a molecular level for sun protection and anti-aging
(00:20:43) - Evolution of the space microbe and cultivation on Earth
(00:22:31) - What it means for a microbe to “sit outside the space station”
(00:23:26) - Professional connections with other Grow Everything guests, Chris Mason and Dr. Kate Rubins
(00:24:29) - Potential for Delavie to expand beyond skincare into new industries
(00:26:11) - Lessons from researching extremophiles and challenges of working with new organisms
(00:28:22) - Role in mentoring students and researchers
(00:31:36) - Rethinking health and resilience in biotechnology
(00:33:20) - Exploring the “product versus platform” dilemma in biotech entrepreneurship
(00:34:48) - How Delavie functions as both a technology platform and a product company
(00:36:29) - Corporate partnerships and product applications of Delavie’s ingredients
(00:38:53) - Clarification: using microbial compounds, not live bacteria, in products
(00:39:59) - Importance of protecting the skin microbiome without disrupting it
(00:42:46) - The future of skincare and longevity
(00:45:03) - Quick-fire questions begin
(00:45:19) - Weirdest place to hunt for a microbe
(00:45:31) - Bio-fact most people don’t believe but should
(00:46:48) - Personal skincare non-negotiable
(00:48:20) - Would you rather halt or reverse aging?
(00:48:51) - Weirdest place a sample has been collected
(00:51:14) - Post-interview reflections and discussion
(00:52:54) - Takeaways from the interview and the concept of convergence
(00:54:03) - Conversation on Umami flavor and UV light spectrums
(00:56:00) - Regulatory differences in sunscreen between the US and Europe
(00:58:14) - Announcement of the BioFabricate Fair and listener discount code
Topics Covered:
biotech beauty, space biotech, skin care, biomanufacturing, longevity, extremophiles
Have a question or comment? Message us here:
Text or Call (804) 505-5553
Instagram / Twitter / LinkedIn / Youtube / Grow Everything
Karl and Erum speak with Richard Traherne of Capgemini Invent and Cambridge Consultants, where they explore the explosive convergence of engineering biology, artificial intelligence, and sustainable innovation. Richard reveals how programmable biology is catalyzing a new industrial revolution—transitioning biotech from niche innovation to foundational infrastructure across sectors like food, fashion, personal care, and manufacturing. From building predictive bio-labs to deploying proprietary large language models for enzyme design, Richard shares how his team is helping companies leap from conceptual curiosity to commercial readiness. The conversation dives into challenges faced by both bio-literate and bio-novice enterprises, the importance of storytelling and regulatory support, and how a truly bio-native design mindset can unlock regenerative, high-performance solutions. This episode is a must-listen for biotech professionals, sustainability strategists, and innovation leaders eager to scale with intention in the emerging bioeconomy.
Grow Everything brings the bioeconomy to life. Hosts Karl Schmieder and Erum Azeez Khan share stories and interview the leaders and influencers changing the world by growing everything. Biology is the oldest technology. And it can be engineered. What are we growing?
Learn more at www.messaginglab.com/groweverything
Chapters:
Links and Resources:
Topics Covered:
biotech consulting, bioengineering, innovation adoption, integration, bio-based, systems biology
Have a question or comment? Message us here:
Text or Call (804) 505-5553
Instagram / Twitter / LinkedIn / Youtube / Grow Everything
Email: [email protected]
Music by: Nihilore
Production by: Amplafy Media
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