Science 101, in its third season, features The Big Big Picture—a wide-angle exploration of science that steps beyond isolated facts to examine scale, systems, and our place in the universe. This episode connects physics, astronomy, biology, and emerging technologies to show how seemingly small discoveries fit into much larger patterns shaping reality. By zooming out from the microscopic to the cosmic, the conversation invites listeners to rethink perspective, question assumptions, and appreciate how interconnected scientific knowledge truly is. The Big Big Picture challenges us to move past fragments of information and toward a deeper, more integrated understanding of the world we inhabit.

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Mark Christensen

“Humanity is the spore of Earth’s consciousness.”What if everything you thought you knew about evolution was missing its most radical chapter? My work, Fungus Theory of Conscious Growth, proposes that

Mark L. Christensen is a Hollywood-credited filmmaker, musician, and science author whose work bridges storytelling, technology, and the evolution of human consciousness. As the creator of The Fungus Theory of Conscious Growth, he explores how life and awareness expand through patterns of adaptation — from fungi to humanity’s potential as the living spore of Earth’s intelligence.

Drawing on backgrounds in filmmaking, music, and scientific inquiry, Mark brings complex ideas to life through vivid storytelling. His conversations connect biology, cosmology, and psychology, asking how creativity, consciousness, and technology may be part of the same evolutionary drive.

Audiences describe his interviews as mind-expanding yet grounded — weaving scientific curiosity with the narrative flair of a seasoned artist. Whether discussing the nature of intelligence, the future of human evolution, or the biology behind consciousness, Mark leaves listeners with a lasting sense of wonder and possibility.

Ideal for podcasts on: science communication, futurism, philosophy of mind, consciousness studies, innovation, and the intersection of art and science.

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Tom Sheahen

Professional Physicist and Energy Expert

Dr. Thomas P. Sheahen is vice president of the Science and Environment Policy Project (SEPP), Director of the Institute for Theological Encounter with Science and Technology (ITEST), and president/CEO of Western Technology, Inc., an independent consulting firm specializing in energy technology issues with business implications,

From 2005 – 2009, Dr. Sheahen served as Senior Analyst in the Systems Integration Office of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. From 1993 – 2002  he was senior scientist in the Energy Systems Group for Science Applications International Corporation, where he led a team of evaluators in selecting renewable energy projects for support by NREL. He previously held positions with Argonne National Laboratory, Energy Research Advisory Board to the Department of Energy, SRI International (Stanford Research Institute), Congressional Office of Technology Assessment, National Bureau of Standards, and Bell Telephone Laboratories.

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Psychedelics hold much promise as a treatment for mental health disorders, thanks to what is known about how the brain and the mind experience and react to psychedelics. Sometimes, psychedelics mimic psychiatric disorders, and sometimes they can help us treat psychiatric disorders.

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Available on Amazon worldwide. Five storytellers from Inexhaustible Media’s Twitch-based Writeteam converge on science fiction with stories from cyberpunk adventure to aliens & space opera.Deke by danger zones rife with nefarious companies, multiverse threats and unexpected adventures in space colonies. A man with a singular focus must keep his mind busy before he acts on impulses that could expose his secret. A woman discovers reality twisted, when searching for her friend and finding the father she didn’t know she was missing. A Captain of the space fleet defends her crew from disorienting multiverse destruction. A single mom risks jeopardizing the security of her family to save two young lives in an engineered colony. A war hero from the wrong side of victory ducks through cyberpunk discotheques in 2079’s London, with an assassin on his techo-tail.

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Doug Ell

Science AND Faith

Author Douglas Ell, a former atheist, says “I’ve spent more than 30 years reconciling science and God, because I needed scientific evidence to believe in God.”

In our time, the pursuit of scientific and philosophical knowledge has largely been the domain of narrowly focused professionals and academics. Ell’s work represents a return to the more open-minded, broad thinking of the Renaissance and Scientific Revolution, when intelligent people of diverse backgrounds exchanged information not to further professional careers, but as part of a collective effort to advance science and reason.

Douglas Ell grew up in Connecticut, and graduated early from MIT, where he double majored in math and physics. He then obtained a masters in theoretical mathematics from the University of Maryland. After graduating from law school, magna cum laude, he became a prominent attorney. Ell drafted the first 401(k) plan in professional sports and has represented a number of nationally recognized corporations, unions and pension plans. He has litigated nationally with great success and persuaded Congress to make important changes in employee benefits laws.

As a lawyer Ell learned how to sift through competing arguments and the importance of carefully considering different points of view, skills which he has now used to untangle the confused and often emotional relationship between science and religion.

His legal training and work, combined with his academic science background and a lifetime of independent study, has given him a uniquely grounded approach to science, religion, and philosophy.

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Science 101, in its third season, features Mark Christensen in an insightful episode titled The Power of Curiosity: How Science Explains Our World. This conversation explores curiosity as the driving force behind scientific discovery, innovation, and human progress, showing how asking the right questions leads to deeper understanding of the natural world. Mark Christensen breaks down complex scientific ideas into accessible insights, demonstrating how observation, experimentation, and critical thinking shape everything from everyday phenomena to groundbreaking breakthroughs. The Power of Curiosity invites listeners to see science not as a collection of facts, but as an ongoing journey of inquiry—one that empowers us to better understand, navigate, and appreciate the world around us.

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Chris Philbrook is the creator and author of Adrian’s Undead Diary, The Reemergence, Colony Lost, the fantasy world of Elmoryn and the upcoming horror series The Darkness of DIggory Finch. Chris has several years of experience working in game development and editing as well as writing fiction for several major game design companies. He has a business degree as well as a psychology degree.

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Dalton Sizemore

Biology with Heart, Humor, and a Drawl

I’m Dalton — a molecular biologist, science communicator, and caregiver. I hold a BS and MS in Cell and Molecular Biology from Appalachian State University, where I focused on cancer biology, virology, and immunology. My research explored how viruses like VSV might be used to disrupt the immune processes that help cancer metastasize. I also hold a graduate certificate in clinical psychology, which helps me bridge the gap between the science of the body and the realities of the human experience.

But the truth is, everything I’ve done in science is rooted in something far more personal.

I’m a survivor of childhood abuse. My father left when I was young, and my mother — who raised me on her own — endured two severely abusive relationships: one during my childhood, and another while I was in high school and starting college. Those years shaped me deeply. They taught me what it means to live in chaos and still push forward, to carry pain and still protect others, and to learn, even when nothing in your life feels safe.

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This episode examines how curiosity fuels observation, experimentation, and innovation, transforming everyday questions into breakthroughs that reshape our understanding of nature, technology, and human life. By connecting simple wonder to complex scientific principles, the discussion highlights how science demystifies the universe—revealing patterns, causes, and connections that govern everything from microscopic particles to vast cosmic systems. The Power of Curiosity reinforces the idea that science is not merely a collection of facts, but a living process—one that empowers humanity to question boldly, think critically, and continually expand the boundaries of what we know about the world we inhabit.

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