Karl and Erum kick off 2026 with deep reflections on prosperity, consciousness, and the idea that we might be living in a simulation. But the real focus is on a concept that could make or break biotech companies: orchestration. They dive into why most biotech innovations outside of pharma struggle to commercialize and introduce the idea of value chain syndication—bringing together innovators, manufacturers, investors, and big incumbents to create entire ecosystems rather than just individual deals. Using examples like K18 Hair's marketing orchestration and the urgent need to replace Red Dye 40, they break down how founders can architect strategic "seed deals" that build toward transformative industry shifts. This isn't about traditional sales or business development—it's about becoming the center of an ecosystem that includes everyone from ingredient suppliers to end customers. With tailwinds from geopolitical changes, supply chain concerns, and increasing demand for bio-based solutions, the time for orchestration is now. Whether you're a founder trying to scale or a big company looking to innovate, this episode shows you how to think bigger than your own company and build the infrastructure for a bio-based future.
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, CPG, business models, industry, bacterial cellulose, fermentation
Have a question or comment? Message us here:
Text or Call (804) 505-5553
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Email: groweverything@messaginglab.com
Music by: Nihilore
Production by: Amplafy Media
In this special holiday replay episode, we revisit our conversation with Ashley Beckwith, founder of Foray Biosciences, who shares her groundbreaking work in plant cell culture and tissue engineering. Growing up in Colorado, Ashley watched forests disappear to housing development and wildfire—experiences that sparked her lifelong mission to reimagine how we produce plant materials. After training as an engineer and working in medical device development, she pivoted to apply tissue engineering concepts to plants, initially exploring lab-grown wood before discovering a more fundamental problem: the lack of accessible, efficient plant cell culture processes. Today, Foray develops fabricated seeds for forest restoration, creates harvest-free plant products, and builds AI-powered tools to accelerate plant science R&D. Ashley explains why plant cells are the fundamental building blocks for everything from molecules to materials to entire ecosystems, and how her company is working to solve the seed shortage crisis that prevents us from restoring 94% of post-wildfire sites. She also discusses the potential for de-extinction of recently lost plant species in California and the importance of creating regenerative rather than extractive relationships with plant systems. This conversation explores the intersection of synthetic biology, forestry, and biomanufacturing while reminding us that we are all, whether we know it or not, plant people.
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:
developmental biology, morphology, morphospace, planarians, electroceuticals, bioelectricity, tissue regeneration, biomedical applications, holidays, Christmas
Have a question or comment? Message us here:
Text or Call (804) 505-5553
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Email: groweverything@messaginglab.com
Music by: Nihilore
Production by: Amplafy Media
In this episode, Karl and Erum speak with Aradhita Parasrampuria, founder of CellSense, about revolutionizing the fashion embellishment industry through biology. Aradhita shares her journey from witnessing toxic dye masters in Gujarat textile factories to creating biodegradable sequins, beads, and buttons using algae and bacterial cellulose. She explains how her materials can be produced at room temperature, glow in the dark through bioluminescence, and are manufactured through an automated system that eliminates exploitative manual labor. With one in five garments containing embellishments, CellSense addresses a massive market while tackling microplastic pollution, worker health issues, and the 2027 EU ban on microbeads and lead. Aradhita discusses successful pilots with fashion brands and skincare companies, the challenges of achieving vivid colors and iridescence with biomaterials, and her vision for a circular system where anyone can upload a design and receive custom bioplastic solutions. The conversation explores the intersection of design, biotechnology, and sustainability, demonstrating how biology can create materials that don't just replace plastics—they surpass them.
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:
biomaterials, fashion, embellishments, sequins, bacterial cellulose, fermentation
Have a question or comment? Message us here:
Text or Call (804) 505-5553
Karl and Erum explore the untapped potential of fungi through three groundbreaking interviews. First, they speak with Susanne Gloersen, founder of the Future is Fungi Award, about why fungi represent the next frontier in biotech and how her global platform is accelerating fungal innovation across industries—from soil remediation to firefighting foam. Next, they sit down with Ricky Cassini of Michroma, winner of the Future is Fungi Award, who explains how his team engineers fungi to produce natural food colorants that outperform synthetic dyes and plant-based alternatives, offering 50x more potency than traditional options while being heat and pH stable. Finally, they interview Dr. Britta Winter of Mycolever, runner-up of the award, who discusses how her company uses fungal biodiversity to create sustainable bio-compounds for cosmetics, including emulsifiers and enhanced beauty oils that replace petrochemicals without compromising performance. Throughout the episode, the hosts highlight recent developments like MIT researchers using fungal compounds to treat brain cancer, FDA's phase-out of synthetic dyes, and the growing shift toward bio-based ingredients in food, cosmetics, and beyond.
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:
mycelium, fungi, mushrooms, Future is Fungi, bioinnovation, biotech, mycoremediation, food dyes, personal care and beauty
Have a question or comment? Message us here:
Text or Call (804) 505-5553
Lauryn Menard, co-founder of Gob, joins us to discuss how she's tackling the 40 billion petroleum-based earplugs produced annually by creating the first biodegradable, mycelium-based alternative. Named one of Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies of 2025 and featured in Time Magazine's Best Inventions, Lauryn shares her journey from industrial designer to biotech entrepreneur. She explains why she chose mycelium over other biomaterials, how she scaled production without building a factory from scratch, and her strategy for bringing sustainable products to mainstream consumers through cultural relevance—partnering with artists like Billie Eilish and Chappell Roan at major music venues. Lauryn also reveals her vision for Gob's future: replacing an entire category of single-use products, from cotton pads to condoms, with materials that return to the earth. This conversation explores the intersection of design, biomaterials, entrepreneurship, and the urgent need for better infrastructure to support a regenerative economy.
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:
biomaterials, single use goods, FCMG, mycelium, ear plugs, entrepreneurship, branding, storytelling, biofabrication
Have a question or comment? Message us here:
Text or Call (804) 505-5553
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Email: groweverything@messaginglab.com
In this Thanksgiving replay, we revisit our conversation with Paul Shapiro, co-founder and CEO of Better Meat Co, who's pioneering the use of mycelium-based proteins as a sustainable alternative to animal meat. Paul shares his remarkable journey from starting an animal welfare organization in high school to becoming a biotech entrepreneur. He explains how fungi fermentation creates protein-rich, meat-like textures in less than 24 hours without the environmental toll of traditional agriculture. The episode explores the science behind mycoprotein, the challenges facing the alternative protein industry, the need for government investment in biomanufacturing, and why fungi may be the key to feeding both Earth and future space travelers. Paul also discusses Better Meat Co's recent $31 million Series A funding and their mission to make sustainable protein accessible at scale.
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:
developmental biology, morphology, morphospace, planarians, electroceuticals, bioelectricity, tissue regeneration, biomedical applications,
Have a question or comment? Message us here:
Text or Call (804) 505-5553
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Email: groweverything@messaginglab.com
Join us for a mind-bending conversation with Professor Michael Levin, director of the Allen Discovery Center at Tufts University, as he reveals how cells make decisions without brains, store memories without DNA, and navigate anatomical space like we navigate physical space. Discover how his team created two-headed immortal worms whose memory persists across regeneration cycles, how bioelectrical patterns control body shape independently of genetics, and why the future of medicine lies in communicating with the collective intelligence of our cells rather than micromanaging their molecular machinery. From xenobots made of frog cells to the anatomical compiler that will revolutionize regenerative medicine, this episode explores the frontier where developmental biology, cognition, and robotics converge to redefine what it means to be alive.
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:
developmental biology, morphology, morphospace, planarians, electroceuticals, bioelectricity, tissue regeneration, biomedical applications
Have a question or comment? Message us here:
Text or Call (804) 505-5553
Instagram / Twitter / LinkedIn / Youtube / Grow Everything
Email: groweverything@messaginglab.com
We sit down with Andrew Verbinnen, founder of HairDAO, who's revolutionizing how we approach hair loss research and treatment. After experiencing hair loss himself at nineteen, Andrew discovered that androgenetic alopecia - affecting 95% of hair loss cases - receives almost no funding because it's classified as cosmetic rather than a disease. By creating a patient-led biotech organization combining a thriving online community with an in-house high-throughput lab, HairDAO has driven research costs down from $250,000 per study to just $6,000 while accelerating results from two years to one month. Andrew shares how they've developed proprietary treatments available through their telehealth platform Anagen, built a unique human hair follicle organ culture model that's providing unprecedented data on fully intact human tissue, and created a token-based governance system where patients vote on which research to fund. We explore the blurring lines between pharmaceuticals and consumer products, the power of patient empowerment in driving innovation, and why Andrew believes the hair follicle data they're generating could unlock treatments for conditions far beyond hair loss.
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:
biomaterials, wood, lumber, bacterial cellulose, industrial biomanufacturing, biotech, business
Have a question or comment? Message us here:
Text or Call (804) 505-5553
Instagram / Twitter / LinkedIn / Youtube / Grow Everything
Email: groweverything@messaginglab.com
Karl and Erum sit down with Gabe Tavas, CEO and co-founder of Symmetry Wood, who is pioneering a revolutionary approach to wood production. Gabe shares his journey from design student to bio-innovator, inspired by his time volunteering in rural Ecuador where he witnessed the devastating impact of plastic waste. His company has developed Pyrus, the first solid wood made primarily from bacterial nanocellulose—specifically, waste from the world's largest kombucha brewery. Instead of logging endangered tropical hardwoods, Symmetry Wood is targeting the high-end guitar industry first, proving that biodesigned materials can meet the most demanding performance standards. Gabe discusses the technical challenges of working with living systems, the importance of starting with niche markets before scaling to mass production, and his vision for fab cities where wood and other materials are manufactured locally from urban waste. This conversation bridges design, biology, and entrepreneurship, offering a glimpse into a future where we can create beautiful, high-performance materials without harming forests or ecosystems.
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:
biomaterials, wood, lumber, bacterial cellulose, industrial biomanufacturing, biotech, business
Have a question or comment? Message us here:
Text or Call (804) 505-5553
Instagram / Twitter / LinkedIn / Youtube / Grow Everything
Email: groweverything@messaginglab.com
In this Halloween-themed episode, Veronica Breckenridge from First Bite returns to discuss her eye-opening "Industrial Bio-Manufacturing Graveyard Report." Drawing from her experience scaling companies like Apple and Tesla, Veronica reveals why 80% of bio-manufacturing startups fail—and it's not because of bad science. The conversation explores critical mistakes like targeting commodity markets too early, underestimating downstream processing costs, and the "build it and they will come" mentality that has buried promising ventures. Veronica explains why now is actually the best time to invest in bio-manufacturing, citing decreasing costs (3 million times cheaper in 25 years), rising consumer demand for healthier alternatives to petroleum-based products, and increased government support for domestic manufacturing. She shares tactical advice on patient capital structures, the importance of strategic partnerships over going solo, and why bio-manufacturing is more analogous to hardware scaling than pharmaceutical development. The episode offers valuable lessons for founders, investors, and anyone interested in the future of sustainable manufacturing.
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:
industrial biomanufacturing, biotech, business, growth stage, graveyard report, halloween
Have a question or comment? Message us here:
Text or Call (804) 505-5553
Instagram / Twitter / LinkedIn / Youtube / Grow Everything
Email: groweverything@messaginglab.com
Music by: Nihilore
Production by: Amplafy Media
In this episode, we explore how Varda Space Industries is pioneering pharmaceutical manufacturing in microgravity with Chief Strategy Officer Michael Riley and Chief Science Officer Adrian Radocea. The team discusses how removing gravity from the crystallization process enables better drug formulations—creating more stable, bioavailable medicines that don't require refrigeration. From their reusable spacecraft that can manufacture drugs in orbit and return them to Earth, to their vision of making space-based manufacturing routine and "boring," Varda is bridging aerospace engineering and biopharma to solve formulation challenges that have stumped the industry for decades. With $187 million in recent funding and spacecraft currently in orbit, they're transforming science fiction into a manufacturing platform that could expand access to medicines globally.
Chapters:
(00:00:00) Teaser and Introduction
(00:05:00) Meet the Team: From Semiconductors and Global Health to Space Pharma
(00:08:00) Microgravity as a Manufacturing Tool: Physics Over Chemistry
(00:13:00) Which Drugs Benefit Most? Small Molecules to Antibodies
(00:15:00) Bridging Aerospace and Biopharma Cultures
(00:17:00) Current Mission: A Lab (and Soon Factory) in Space
(00:21:00) Surprising Gravity Effects Even at 800 RPM
(00:25:00) Making Space Manufacturing Cost-Effective
(00:29:00) The 10-Year Vision: Routine, Industrial, and "Boring"
(00:31:00) Hiring Across Aerospace and Pharma + Quick Fire Questions
Episode Links:
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
Topics Covered:
space biotech, drug development, space research, low earth orbit, microgravity, crystallization
Have a question or comment? Message us here:
Text or Call (804) 505-5553
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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:
National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnologies Report
First Bight Ventures to Buy a Manufacturing Graveyard Report
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
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
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
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:
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:
Newlab Climate Week Event - sign up and get tickets now!
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
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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:
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:
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:
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: groweverything@messaginglab.com
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:
David Sinclair’s Novel - Lifespan: Why We Age and Why We Don’t Have To
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
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