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In this episode of Grow Everything, Erum sits down with Momo Vuyisich and Guruduth (Guru) Banavar of Viome to explore how decoding the human microbiome could transform the way we understand and treat disease. From the depletion of beneficial gut bacteria to the cutting-edge use of AI in precision health, Momo and Guru share how Viome’s technology turns deep biological insights into actionable, personalized health recommendations. Along the way, they connect the dots between gut science, chronic illness prevention, and the massive opportunity for biomanufacturing to deliver scalable wellness solutions. This is a conversation that blends molecular biology with real-world impact—perfect for anyone intrigued by the intersection of synthetic biology, health tech, and sustainability.
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:
Gut microbiome, oral and skin microbiome, AI, microbiome testing kit
Have a question or comment? Message us here:
Text or Call (804) 505-5553
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Email: [email protected]
Music by: Nihilore
Production by: Amplafy Media
In this special episode of Grow Everything, hosts Karl and Erum pull back the curtain on their own operations, offering a behind-the-scenes look at how the podcast came to life. They discuss the core mission of sharing innovative bioengineering breakthroughs, the challenges of maintaining a weekly podcast, and the team behind it all. From the technical intricacies of biomanufacturing to the strategic communications needed to make those breakthroughs accessible to a wider audience, this episode reflects on the journey, growth, and impact of the Grow Everything platform. With a mix of humor and passion for sustainability, Erum and Karl continue their mission to educate and inspire those working at the cutting edge of synthetic biology and the 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:
science communications, podcast creation, podcast origin, biotech messaging, startups
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
In this episode of Grow Everything, hosts Karl and Erum dive into the world of community biology with Dr. Casey Lardner, Executive Director of Genspace. They explore how this groundbreaking Brooklyn lab is reimagining who gets to participate in science — and how. From radical accessibility and inclusive education to the launch of Gotham Foundry, Casey shares how Genspace is cultivating a culture of curiosity, creativity, and collaboration. This is a conversation about science as a shared resource, where artists, bioengineers, and everyday citizens all have a seat at the bench.
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, community biotech, community hub, biomaterials, bio-based ingredients, Genspace
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
In this thought-provoking episode of Grow Everything, host Karl sits down with Suzanne Lee, founder of Biofabricate and pioneer in the biomaterials revolution, for a conversation that redefines how we think about material innovation. With passion and precision, Suzanne shares her journey from fashion design to biodesign, revealing how her early experiments with growing microbial cellulose led to the launch of a global movement toward sustainable, biology-based materials. They explore how biology and culture are converging, why “natural” doesn’t always mean better, and how collaboration—not competition—is key to transforming industries like fashion, architecture, and consumer goods. If you're curious about the future of sustainable materials, circular design, and how the bioeconomy is taking shape through strategic partnerships and visionary creativity, this is the episode for you.
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 beauty, skincare, endocrine disrupting chemicals, endometriosis, consumer biotech, supply chain, manufacturing, clean beauty, product design
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
In this episode, Karl and Erum sit down with Shelby Newsad, Partner at Compound, to unpack the explosive rise of consumer biotech, biohacking, and radical health optimization. Shelby shares inside stories from Compound’s Biohacker Demo Day, exploring how crypto funding, accessible blood testing, and personal health data are reshaping the future of healthcare. From peptides and proteome sequencing to fire-breathing dragons and continuous glucose monitors, this conversation dives deep into how individuals are reclaiming agency over their biology. If you’re fascinated by the intersection of synthetic biology, longevity, and culture, this is a must-listen.
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 beauty, skincare, endocrine disrupting chemicals, endometriosis, consumer biotech, supply chain, manufacturing, clean beauty, product design
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
Karl and Erum bring on Dr. Alexander Titus, a commissioner on the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology, to explore the exciting and challenging intersections of biotechnology and policy. Alexander shares his experiences from his unique journey across academia, government, and industry, diving into the role of biosecurity, the potential of synthetic biology, and the emerging convergence of tech and bio. They discuss ambitious projects like de-extincting the woolly mammoth, advances in biodefense, and the impacts of AI on biotech innovation. It’s a conversation that sheds light on how cutting-edge biotech could shape the future and the necessary balance between innovation and ethical responsibility.
\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:
Topics Covered: biotech, biosecurity, national security commission on emerging biotechnology, policy
Episode Links:
Have a question or comment? Message us here:
Text or Call (804) 505-5553
Instagram / TikTok / Twitter / LinkedIn / Youtube / GrowEverything website
Email: [email protected]
Music by: Nihilore
Production by: Amplafy Media
Karl and Erum sit down with Elle Black, a product designer and manufacturing strategist whose journey into the world of skincare, AI, and biology is anything but typical. Elle shares how her background in physical product development led her to dive deep into the supplement and cosmetics industries—spaces rich with opportunity and riddled with misinformation. From decoding the intricacies of INCI labeling to navigating unregulated beauty markets, she unpacks what it really takes to build responsible, scalable consumer products. Whether you're in biotech, product innovation, or sustainability, Elle's perspective on building smarter—from ingredients to algorithms—will resonate.
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 beauty, skincare, endocrine disrupting chemicals, endometriosis, consumer biotech, supply chain, manufacturing, clean beauty, product design
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
Karl and Erum are joined by Nancy Diniz, Co-Founder of bioMATTERS LLC, to explore the future of biodesign and sustainable materials. Drawing on her background in architecture and digital fabrication, Nancy unpacks how bioMATTERS is creating novel mycelium- and microbe-based materials that are not only biodegradable but alive. The conversation traverses speculative design, the challenge of scaling living materials, and the cultural shift needed to embrace biology as a partner in production. With humor and insight, Nancy shares how her work sits at the intersection of art, science, and ecology—and why the next generation of materials must be rooted in systems thinking.
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:
biomanufacturing, cell free biomanufacturing, enzymes, nutraceuticals, biotech, pharmaceuticals, AI, spinouts
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
Karl and Erum speak with Dr. Angela M. Belcher, MIT professor and pioneer in bioinspired materials, about how biology can transform the way we manufacture sustainable technologies. Drawing inspiration from how abalone build shells and viruses assemble structures, Angela shares how her lab uses genetically engineered viruses—like M13 bacteriophage—to grow batteries, solar cells, and cancer-targeting materials at room temperature without harmful chemicals. Her work reimagines the periodic table as a design toolkit and shows how nature’s strategies can help us build cleaner, smarter, and more sustainable solutions.
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:
biomanufacturing, cell free biomanufacturing, enzymes, nutraceuticals, biotech, pharmaceuticals, AI, spinouts
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
Karl and Erum sit down with Erika Milczek, CEO and founder of Curie Co, to explore how synthetic biology is rewriting the rules of modern chemistry. Erika, a former Merck chemist, shares her journey from Big Pharma to launching a biotech startup that engineers enzymes to replace legacy chemicals in personal care and consumer goods. With insights grounded in regulatory shifts, manufacturing scalability, and the power of directed evolution, Erika discusses how her team is building a “biotech alternative to petroleum-based chemistry.” Whether you're curious about enzyme engineering, bioindustrial startups, or how synthetic biology can drive sustainability in everyday products, this episode delivers a high-energy, deeply technical, and inspiring dive into the future of materials 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:
Links and Resources:
Topics Covered:
biomanufacturing, cell free biomanufacturing, enzymes, nutraceuticals, biotech, pharmaceuticals, AI, spinouts
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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