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Dare to Explore

Space Camp Explorers Club

Dare to Explore is a podcast from the Space Camp Explorers Club featuring interviews with friends of the U.S. Space & Rocket Center, Space Camp Alumni, engineers, scientists, and explorers of all types.

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21 episodes
monthly
Avg 36 min
English

Episodes 21

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October 7 · 37 min
Episode 58: Andy Sadhwani
Andy Sadhwani is a principal propulsion engineer at SpaceX. He has been an academic researcher at both NASA and Stanford University. Andy earned dual master’s degrees in mechanical engineering and aeronautics and astronautics from Stanford, and became a civilian astronaut aboard Virgin Galactic's "Galactic 007."
August 17 · 48 min
Episode 57: Joseph Pelfrey
Joseph Pelfrey is the senior advisor to the deputy associate administrator at NASA. Throughout his long NASA career, Joseph has served in many positions, including aerospace engineer, design integration lead, and the director of the Marshall Space Flight Center. He has contributed to the ISS program, Ares I rocket, and the SLS.
July 21 · 42 min
Episode 56: Julie Savage
Julie Savage is the Director of Space Platforms and Threat Sensors Growth at Leidos. She was a RADAR Flight Test Director and Lead RADAR Systems Engineer at Reagan Test Site in Kwajalein Atoll, is a National Space Club Board Member serving the Education committee, and the Vice President of Sponsorships on the Space Force Association Board of Directors. Julie was a counselor at Space Camp in 1996, and was inducted into the Space Camp Hall of Fame in 2026.
June 8 · 39 min
Episode 55: Damon Feltman
Retired US Air Force Brigadier General Damon Feltman served as the Deputy Chief Strategy and Resources Officer for the United States Space Force. Feltman holds multiple advanced degrees in space leadership, strategic studies, and business management, serves as Board Chair for the Association of Commercial Space Professionals, and is a mentor to Vanderbilt University’s Space Edge Accelerator program. Today, he is the Chief Executive Officer of the Space Force Association, a 501c3 nonprofit and re
May 8 · 38 min
Episode 54: Michelle Christensen
Michelle Christensen is a Mission Operations Integrations Lead of Lunar Permanence at Blue Origin. She was previously a Flight Director for New Shepard Mission Operations and Engines Test Lead developing the BE-4 engine. She attended the University of Alabama in Huntsville and Penn State University, earning a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering.
April 20 · 25 min
Episode 53: Ethan Couch
Ethan Couch is a cofounder and general manager of Yellowhammer Brewing in Huntsville, Alabama. Yellowhammer is a local craft brewery that has been serving Huntsville for 15 years. Yellowhammer is the brewery behind T-Minus, a tangerine kölsch inspired by Tang that raises scholarship money to send kids to Space Camp!
March 18 · 44 min
Episode 52: Eiman Jahangir
Eiman Jahangir is Section Director for General Cardiology and Cardio-Oncology at Vanderbuilt University Medical Center in Nashville. Eiman has been a finalist for NASA’s Astronaut Candidate Program twice, was the medical officer for the first analog astronaut mission at the Space Analog for the Moon and Mars at Biosphere 2, and became the 704th person to travel to space aboard Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket.
February 27 · 37 min
Episode 51: Jason Williamson
Jason Williamson is a civil engineering graduate of Purdue University. He has decades of civil and structural engineering experience and is the senior vice president of Dunaway. Jason recently attended adult Space Camp as part of Team Magellan, winning the Commander’s Cup, and is preparing to launch into space onboard Purdue 1 with Virgin Galactic in 2027.
February 9 · 34 min
Episode 50: Anna Boyd
Anna Boyd was a United States Navy helicopter pilot and Company Officer before serving in the US Navy Reserves for over a decade. She was commanding officer of SEAL Team 18 - Unmanned Aerial Systems and commanding officer of the Navy Reserve Naval History and Heritage Command. Today, she is the Senior Product Manager at Pinnacle Solutions in Huntsville, Alabama.
January 19 · 42 min
Episode 49: Ben Chandler
Ben Chandler has served as the President & COO for Easy Auto and Sunrise Acceptance since 2017. He attended Space Camp and Aviation Challenge programs 16 times, helped form the Space Camp Alumni Association, is a licensed pilot and airplane owner, and has served on the board of the U.S. Space & Rocket Center Education Foundation. Ben is Chair of the Cleveland, Tennessee, Regional Jetport Authority and Past Chairman of the Cleveland and Bradley County Community Foundation.
Dec 18, 2025 · 35 min
Episode 48: Mike Wicks
Mike Wicks began his career as a United States Army civilian engineer and private contractor for the Department of Defense. He co-founded and led Summit Research Corporation, found and led Integration Innovation Inc., or i3, and served as a vice president at Lockheed Martin when they acquired i3. In retirement, Mike and his wife Christine formed the nonprofit Wicks Family Foundation and is president of the Houston-based Diakonos Research developing of state-of-the-art cancer immunotherapies.
Nov 24, 2025 · 39 min
Episode 47: Robin Soprano and Nathan Carter
Robin Soprano and Nathan Carter are part of the future-looking leadership of Space Camp. Robin is vice president of Space Camp. She has been with the US Space and Rocket Center for nearly a decade, and previously was a director at Sci-Quest and an engineer with the United States Army at Redstone Arsenal. Nathan is the Director of Strategic Camp Development, and previously was the Director of Mission Support for Space Camp.
Nov 17, 2025 · 45 min
Episode 46: Gretchen Green 2
Astronaut Dr. Gretchen Green is a Brown, Yale, and Harvard educated radiologist practicing in North Carolina. She attended Space Camp four times, and served as a crew trainer. Dr. Green has served on the Space Camp Alumni Association Board and is currently on the U.S. Space & Rocket Center Education Foundation's Board of Directors. In May of 2025, Dr. Green added the title of Astronaut to her resume, flying aboard Blue Origin’s NS32 New Shepherd rocket.
Oct 27, 2025 · 31 min
Episode 45: Alexandra Kemp
Dr. Alexandra Kemp is an advanced human factors systems engineer at Honeywell Aerospace Technologies, in Phoenix, Arizona. She is an adjunct professor of space human factors at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, a bioastronautics researcher for the International Institute for Astronautical Sciences, and a classically trained professional opera singer.
Oct 13, 2025 · 25 min
Episode 44: Cheri Volkin
Cheri Volkin is the accountant and scholarship coordinator for the US Space and Rocket Center Foundation. She previously served as an accountant for the US Embassy in Paris, France, and in guest relations for the Rocket City Trash Pandas before joining the Space and Rocket Center as an Aviation Challenge Docent.
Oct 1, 2025 · 25 min
Episode 43: Duke and Tina Tucker
Duke and Tina Tucker are married professionals working in the aviation industry. Tina is president of Pinnacle Solutions, and Duke is the vice president of business development at Akima. Together, these companies are developing state-of-the-art training and simulation products, as well as a variety of other services for the aviation industry.
Sep 10, 2025 · 33 min
Episode 42: Heather Roden
Heather Roden is the Director of Space Camp Education at the US Space and Rocket Center. With a long career in informal education and museum experience, Heather oversees the Space Academy for Educators program, a Space Camp experience for teachers.
Aug 13, 2025 · 42 min
Episode 41: Jeff Haars
Jeff Haars is the Vice President and General Manager Space Exploration Division at Amentum, an advanced engineering and innovative technology company that has supported projects with the United States Military and NASA. Their current projects include parts of the Space Launch System and Human Landing System for the Artemis program.
Jul 24, 2025 · 45 min
Episode 40: Brenda Carr
Brenda Carr is the Executive Director of the U.S. Space & Rocket Center Education Foundation. Prior, she served as Vice President of Development at the US Space and Rocket Center, led the marketing department at Community Bank, and was the Director of Public Information in the Office of the Alabama Secretary of State for a decade.
Jul 18, 2025 · 23 min
Episode 39: PeggyLee Wright
PeggyLee Wright was a U.S. Army Blackhawk helicopter pilot who flew with the 82nd Airborne Division. She is the founder and president of The Company You Keep, a leadership consulting company working with government, military, academia, non-profit, and industry organizations. She serves on multiple boards in the Huntsville, Alabama area, including the Huntsville Special Operations Forces Network.

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