Grow Everything Biotech Podcast

Karl and Erum welcome back Dr. John Cumbers—founder of SynBioBeta and Biological Enlightenment Studios—to dive deep into the transformative power of synthetic biology. From designing personalized proteins and sustainable materials to programming life for space exploration, John unpacks why synthetic biology could be the defining technology of our century. The conversation spans the central dogma, programmable cells, AI-designed genomes, and even the ethics of growing brainless human clones. With themes ranging from planetary health to Pixar-style science storytelling, this episode offers a biologically enlightened vision of a future where we grow everything—from meat to materials to machines.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 Club: The Biologically Enlightened Begin00:00:26 – Biotech Meets Copenhagen: Global R&D, Beer, and Bold Ideas00:01:53 – AI Roasts, Inside Jokes, and the Business of Podcasting00:04:00 – Dire Wolves, CRISPR, and the Wild World of De-Extinction00:09:49 – Microscopes, Microbes, and the Future of Biotech Gaming00:12:14 – Enter John Cumbers: Mastermind of Synthetic Biology00:31:22 – Hyperscale Biology: AI-Bio Collisions at the Frontier00:32:16 – From Intimidation to Innovation: Embracing AI in the Lab00:34:24 – Beyond the Hype: AI, Quantum, and the Bio Black Box00:36:13 – Remixing Life Itself: Non-Canonical Amino Acids Take the Stage00:41:50 – From Niche to Mainstream: Biotech’s Cultural Awakening00:45:12 – Rewriting the Future: Bio Strategies for a Greener Planet00:48:39 – Too Radical to Fail? Brain Swaps and Body Clones00:54:05 – SynBioBeta 2025: The Party, The Panels, The Possibilities00:56:58 – What We Learned: Final Reflections and Nerdy JoyLinks and Resources:Synbiobeta (Listen to this episode for a special discount to attend! You're welcome ;))Common Side EffectsTime Magazine Cover of Colossal De-extincting the dire wolfDehli’s laptop repair marketOsmos Video Game⁠Topics Covered: synbio, conferences, biotech, community, AI in bio, space biotech, biotech education, biotech edutainment. Have a question or comment? Message us here:Text or Call (804) 505-5553 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Grow Everything⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email: groweverything@messaginglab.comMusic by: NihiloreProduction by: Amplafy Media

What if you could grow health-boosting compounds—not in fields, but in bioreactors—using the power of plant cells? In this episode, Karl and Erum sit down with Ilan Sobel, CEO of BioHarvest, to explore how the company is reshaping biotech, nutraceuticals, and biomanufacturing. From leveraging botanical synthesis to create highly bioavailable compounds like piceid resveratrol, to scaling sustainable DTC operations that rival software margins, Ilan reveals how BioHarvest is closing the gap between nature, science, and commerce. Hear how this Coca-Cola veteran is building a biological infrastructure poised to disrupt pharma, food, and beyond—one cell at a time.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 - Kicking Off with Biotech That Prints Money00:00:21 - $9 Trillion Vanishes: Markets, Mayhem, and Monday Mood00:00:36 - Brooklyn Birthdays, Bio Buzz & Citizen Scientists Unite00:02:24 - Tariffs, Pharma, and the Future of Drug Supply Chains00:04:20 - Reddit Rabbit Holes and Underrated Science That Could Change Everything00:06:49 - Pharma’s Dirty Secret: Why Cures Don’t Always Win00:09:39 - Meet Ilan Sobel: From Coca-Cola Exec to Biotech World-Changer00:19:13 - What the Heck Is Botanical Synthesis? (And Why It’s a Game-Changer)00:26:46 - Tiny Footprint, Massive Impact: Economics That Would Make Silicon Valley Jealous00:29:02 - How a Grape Cell Became the King of Blood Flow Supplements00:35:09 - Why Longevity Starts with Blood, Not Kale00:37:32 - The Secret Sauce Behind Supplements That Actually Work00:38:55 - How BioHarvest Orchestrated a Biotech Masterpiece00:40:20 - From Plant Cells to Profit: Scaling Biotech Like a Pro00:43:10 - Open Sourcing the Future: CDMO Deals with Global Impact00:48:47 - Making Sweeteners Smarter (And Actually Tasty)00:51:35 - Building the Tesla of Biomanufacturing—Globally00:57:39 - What’s Next for BioHarvest? Legacy, Longevity, and Global ScaleLinks and Resources:BioHarvestVinia.comPwC’s US Tariff Industry Analysis – Pharmaceutical, Life Science, and Medical DeviceReddit: Scientific Ideas that haven’t gotten enough tractionCommon Side Effects (tv series)Genesis Machine (book)Topics Covered: biomanufacturing, botanical cellular synthesis, plant biology, phytonutrients, sweet proteins,  distributed biomanufacturing, direct to consumer biotechHave a question or comment? Message us here:Text or Call (804) 505-5553 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Grow Everything⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email: groweverything@messaginglab.comMusic by: NihiloreProduction by: Amplafy Media

In this episode of Grow Everything, Karl and Erum dive deep into the transformative world of biomanufacturing with Molly Morse, CEO and Co-founder of Mango Materials. Molly shares how her team is using methane—one of the most potent greenhouse gases—as a feedstock to create PHAs, a class of biodegradable bioplastics. From wastewater treatment partnerships to collaboration with brands like Allbirds and Stella McCartney, Mango Materials is setting a new standard in sustainable innovation. The conversation spans synthetic biology, microbial fermentation, the challenges of scaling, and even bioplastics in space. If you're passionate about circular economies, advanced materials, or cutting-edge climate tech, this episode is 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:00:00:00 - Kicking Things Off: Weekend Tales & Seal Surprises00:00:36 - A Shiny Seal, Beach Drama & Wildlife Wisdom00:02:51 - AI is Basically Michael Scott… And That’s a Good Thing00:04:40 - Can We Trust World Leaders Taking Advice from ChatGPT?00:07:44 - AI That Talks Back: Selling Smarter with Conversational Tech00:09:35 - Muscles Made in a Lab? Welcome to the Future of Biology00:12:36 - Molly Morse Joins: Turning Methane into Magic with Mango Materials00:29:33 - Waste to Wealth: How Municipal Methane Becomes a Revenue Stream00:30:16 - From Landfills to Livestock: Where the Methane Goldmine Is00:31:33 - Scaling Science: The Real Talk Behind Biomanufacturing Challenges00:33:47 - Zero Gravity, Big Ideas: Mango’s Mission in Space00:38:34 - From Microbes to Market: Scaling PHA Pellet Production00:46:11 - What Does “Biodegradable” Really Mean? Let’s Break It Down00:51:35 - Big Picture: What’s Next for Mango Materials and Biotech InnovationLinks and Resources:Mango MaterialsMichael Scott Guide to AI TerminologiesEngineered Muscles That Move Like the Real Thing? MIT Just Made It HappenProtoclone: Bipedal Musculoskeletal Android V1 by Clone RoboticsMango Materials Zero G Experience on G-Force One to test fermentation on a membrane-based bioreactor system in weightlessnessTopics Covered: biomanufacturing, biomaterials, greenhouse gas, waste to value, biopolymersHave a question or comment? Message us here:Text or Call (804) 505-5553 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Grow Everything⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email: groweverything@messaginglab.comMusic by: NihiloreProduction by: Amplafy Media

Karl and Erum sit down with Daniel Goodwin, co-founding Director of Homeworld Collective alongside his friend and collaborator Paul Reginato. Together, they explore how to build resilient, values-aligned infrastructure for a flourishing bioeconomy—beyond the venture model.From climate biotech to systems thinking, Daniel shares how Homeworld Collective is more than just a network—it's an emergent, mycelial community focused on care, collaboration, and collective intelligence. The conversation weaves through everything from the limits of "techno-solutionism" to the power of story in science, and the need to design not just tools, but the conditions for innovation to thrive.If you’re thinking about the future of biotech, and how culture, community, and infrastructure intersect to make it real—this episode is 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:00:00:00 – Welcome to the Biofuture: Erum and Karl kick things off in full grind mode.00:00:16 – Biotech Boom Times: Why the field never sleeps (and neither do the hosts).00:01:01 – Inside the AI Emergence Summit: Smell farms, AGI hype, and real talk on moats.00:03:21 – DIY Healthcare with AI: What happens when you feed your genome to a chatbot?00:05:35 – Can AI Decode Biology? Drug discovery and the limitations of human cognition.00:07:49 – Mammoths, Models & Media: Colossal Biosciences and the narrative power of science.00:11:32 – Meet Daniel Goodwin: Systems thinker, community builder, biotech whisperer.00:12:03 – On George Church: The unintentional influence that shaped Homeworld's DNA.00:18:07 – What Is Homeworld Collective? Building more than a Slack—building a system.00:20:47 – Imagining the Next Bio Era: Biotech’s renaissance as culture, not just tech.00:26:52 – Idea Porn & Biotech Fiction: When storytelling shapes science (and vice versa).00:29:54 – Collaborating with Biology: Designing with, not against, nature’s blueprint.00:30:07 – Rivers as Systems: What infrastructure can learn from ecosystems.00:30:54 – Biomanufacturing Is Hard: Real talk on what it takes to scale with biology.00:32:08 – Carbon Capture, Naturally: Biodesign, fermentation, and the future of CO₂.00:33:45 – Biosecurity + Ethics: Guardrails, governance, and growing with intention.00:41:18 – Prototype Like a Scientist: What biotech can borrow from product design.00:49:07 – Cleaning Up Chemistry: Synbio’s role in reshaping industrial pollution.00:52:46 – Looking Ahead: Final reflections, future infrastructure, and quiet revolutions.Links and Resources:Homeworld CollectiveThe Climate Biotech PodcastKarl and Erum on the Climate Biotech PodcastAI Circle Osmo.AIDoctors Told Him He Was Going to Die. Then A.I. Saved His Life.Colossal BiosciencesHoping to revive mammoths, scientists create 'woolly mice'George Church episode, interviewed by Homeworld CollectiveNeuroscience Needs Hackers, Scientific American Liquid Trees A Natural History of the Future: What the Laws of Biology Tell Us about the Destiny of the Human Species by Robb DunnTopics Covered: climate biotech, George Church, Churchian Juxtaposition, idea porn, genetic engineering, geo biotech, environmental engineering, Have a question or comment? Message us here:Text or Call (804) 505-5553 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Grow Everything⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email: groweverything@messaginglab.comMusic by: Nihilore

Erum and Karl dive into the fascinating world of the skin microbiome with Natalie Enslow, CEO and co-founder of Fjor. Natalie shares her journey from marketing to biotech, explaining how her brand is revolutionizing skincare by embracing the power of beneficial bacteria. She discusses the importance of microbial diversity, the challenges of launching a biotech-driven skincare brand, and how Fjor's enzyme-powered formulations are designed to support rather than replace the skin’s natural microbiome. The conversation also touches on the future of gender-neutral skincare, the intersection of biotech and entrepreneurship, and why the beauty industry needs a serious science-backed shake-up.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 World of Skin Microbiomes!00:00:14 – Erum & Karl Reunite: Travel Tales and Jet Lag00:00:46 – From Panama to London: Adventures and Insights00:02:28 – Why We Started Grow Everything – A Podcast for the Bioeconomy00:02:44 – The Bioeconomy Boom: What’s Next for Biotech?00:04:26 – RFK Jr.’s Mission to Ban Food Dyes—Science or Politics?00:07:08 – Who Owns Your Genetic Data? The Debate Heats Up00:10:43 – Meet Natalie Enslow: The Biotech Innovator Changing Skincare00:13:00 – Culture, Science & Skincare: The Nordic Philosophy Behind Fjor​00:17:00 – Why Your Skin’s Microbiome Is in Crisis (and How to Fix It)​00:23:00 – Convincing Family: How Natalie’s Mom Became a Believer​00:25:00 – Too Many Choices? How Fjor Cuts Through the Skincare Noise​00:27:27 – Gender-Neutral Branding: Why Fjor Is Breaking Beauty Norms00:28:45 – Luxury Meets Science: Natalie’s Background in High-End Marketing00:30:33 – TikTok’s Influence on Biotech: How Fjor Uses Social Media to Educate00:33:29 – What’s Next? The Future of Fjor’s Skincare Innovations00:35:54 – Raising Capital & Building a Dream Team in Biotech00:41:47 – Women in Biotech: Challenges, Wins, and Breaking Barriers00:44:31 – The Future of Skincare: Trends in Biotech Beauty00:49:58 – Wrapping Up: Key Takeaways & Final ThoughtsLinks and Resources:Fjor -  science-backed microbiome  skincare. Order today!Who gets ownership of useful genetic data? (Ars Technica)Connect with Natalie on LinkedInTopics Covered: biomanufacturing, biotech startups, biotech investing, biomanufacturing pilot plants, Houston economic development, synbioHave a question or comment? Message us here:Text or Call (804) 505-5553 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Grow Everything⁠⁠⁠⁠Email: groweverything@messaginglab.comMusic by: Nihilore

Karl and Erum sit down with Veronica Breckenridge, founder of First Bight Ventures, to discuss how the convergence of biology and technology is driving the biggest innovations of the 21st century. Drawing from her deep tech background, including her time at Apple, Veronica explores rapid advancements in genome sequencing, AI-driven biotech, and the vast untapped potential of microbes, emphasizing why now is the time to harness biology to tackle global challenges in health, nutrition, sustainability, and manufacturing. From synthetic biology startups to biomanufacturing at scale, this episode delves into the future of biomaterials and how venture capital can accelerate the next wave of biotech breakthroughs—making it a must-listen for anyone interested in scaling biotech innovations, investing in the bioeconomy, or exploring the intersection of computation and biology.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 - How Biology is Moving Faster Than Moore’s Law00:00:17 - Checking In from Panama00:00:42 - Exploring Panama City’s Biotech Potential00:01:26 - A Futuristic Robot Massage Experience00:02:11 - Reflecting on International Women's Day00:02:40 - Networking with Women in Biotech in Brooklyn00:05:27 - Inside the Merck Digital Sciences Studio Event00:06:19 - Breakthroughs Shaping the Future of Drug Development00:07:15 - The Biggest Hurdles for Startups in Pharma00:16:20 - A Deep Dive with Veronica Breckenridge00:30:41 - Why Manufacturability Matters in Biotech00:31:28 - The Role of Research and Pilot Facilities00:33:48 - How Scientific Founders Can Accelerate Their Business00:35:25 - Houston’s Rising Status in Biomanufacturing00:39:12 - The Power of Collaboration and Mentorship00:43:04 - What It Takes to Scale and Commercialize Biotech Innovations00:48:12 - First Bight Ventures’ Approach to Investing in the Bioeconomy00:51:26 - Building the Biotech Ecosystem & What’s Coming Next00:54:28 - Final Advice for Startups Looking to ScaleLinks and Resources:First Bight Ventures  Biowell - nonprofit acceleratorThe Machine That Changed the World (book)Cemvita (company)  / Grow Everything Episode with CEO Moji KarimiIndustrial Microbes (company) / Grow Everything Episode with CEO Noah HelmanTopics Covered: biomanufacturing, biotech startups, biotech investing, biomanufacturing pilot plants, Houston economic development, synbioHave a question or comment? Message us here:Text or Call (804) 505-5553 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Grow Everything⁠⁠⁠Email: groweverything@messaginglab.comMusic by: Nihilore

Karl and Erum sit down with Massimo Portincaso, founder of Arsenale BioYards, to discuss the urgent need to rethink how we scale biomanufacturing. Massimo shares why today’s approach to industrial biotech—modeled after biopharma—is fundamentally flawed and how Arsenale is flipping the script. From nature co-design to AI-driven strain selection, he lays out a bold vision for scaling bio-based production in a way that is economically viable and industrially scalable. If you care about the future of precision fermentation, sustainable materials, and the bioeconomy, this is a conversation you don’t want to miss!Learn more at www.messaginglab.com/groweverythingLinks and Resources:Arsenale BioyardsFarm.OneCommon Side Effects (TV series)Nature Co-Design reportGenomatica aka GenoOfficinae Bio (now Maravai Life Sciences)"Scaling Cells, Dreaming Big: The Biomanufacturing Cloud with Synonym’s Edward Shenderovich" Topics Covered: Biomanufacturing, bioreactors, downstream processing, upstream processing, bioengineering, bioeconomy, italian biotech Have a question or comment? Message us here:Text or Call (804) 505-5553Instagram  / Twitter / LinkedIn / Youtube / Grow EverythingEmail: groweverything@messaginglab.comMusic by: NihiloreProduction by: Amplafy Media

Flavors, fragrances, and the science behind what makes things smell and taste amazing—Karl and Erum explore this world with Bob Weinstein, a legend in the industry who has spent decades at Firmenich, Robertet, and now Bedoukian Research. Bob takes them on a journey from the early days of animal-derived scents (yes, civet was a thing) to the rise of biotech-powered ingredients that are shaping the future of sustainable fragrance and flavor. They get into the art and science of scent, the challenges of scaling biomanufacturing, and why companies, much like organisms, have to evolve to survive. Plus, Erum shares her experience making her own perfume—though Bob has some thoughts on her ingredient choices.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 – Ice, Snow, and a Birthday Glow 00:00:48 – Cabin Life and Petrochemicals at Work 00:02:37 – Brooklyn: Where Trivia Meets Fungi 00:04:38 – Fermentation Festival and the Science of Flavor 00:06:20 – Yeast, Beer, and Biotech's Brewing Future 00:07:00 – 90s Software Hype vs. Biotech’s Moment 00:10:56 – Melanin, Gamma Rays, and Seeds for Space 00:12:27 – Unilever Shake-Up and What It Means for Biotech 00:13:44 – Robert Weinstein: The Science and Business of Scent 00:31:12 – Government, Industry, and the Fight for Innovation 00:32:00 – The Future of Plant-Based Ingredients 00:32:58 – How Legacy Companies Stay Relevant 00:35:25 – Surviving Economic Cycles in Business 00:36:49 – Bedoukian Research and the Next Chapter 00:39:32 – The Science of Smell: Fragrance, Musk, and Civet 00:45:15 – The Price of Smell: Why Some Scents Cost a Fortune 00:51:38 – Biotech Founders, Here’s What You Need to Know 00:54:30 – Wrapping Up: Leadership, People, and Consumer DelightLinks and Resources: Robertet DSM- Firmenich  Bedoukian Berkeley Yeast FarmOne Avisa Myko Melatech  Melanin from the fungus  protects seeds from the effects of exposure to gamma radiation Inscripta  Aethera Biotech Research Institute for Fragrance Materials Fragrance Creators Association  Flavor Extract Manufacturers AssociationTopics Covered: Biotech beauty, flavors and fragrances, corporate leadership, perfume, taste, bioengineeringHave a question or comment? Message us here:Text or Call (804) 505-5553 ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠  / ⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠Grow Everything⁠⁠Email: groweverything@messaginglab.comMusic by: NihiloreProduction by: Amplafy Media

In this episode of Grow Everything, Karl and Erum sit down with Dr. Glennis Mehra, the absolute powerhouse behind BioLabs at NYU Langone, to talk about what it really takes to build a biotech startup in New York City. From how to deal with imposter syndrome to finding funding in a capital-constrained world, Glennis shares hard-earned insights on how founders can survive (and thrive) in one of the toughest, most exciting biotech ecosystems on the planet. They get into the magic of founder-to-founder collaboration, why biology’s complexity is finally getting the respect it deserves, and whether AI is about to make lab work obsolete (spoiler: it’s not). Plus, Erum debates whether traveling to Mars just to eat lettuce is worth it.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 – Introduction and Vision for a Better Future 00:00:17 – Unexpected Weather, Birthday Trips, and Giant Malls 00:01:41 – Climate Change, Extreme Weather, and the Reality of Rising Temperatures 00:03:07 – Space Travel, Microbes on Mars, and the Lettuce Dilemma 00:05:12 – Biotech Innovations, Soil Microbiomes, and Engineering Nature 00:07:06 – The Storytelling Gene: Why Scientists Must Be Great Communicators 00:09:02 – Sweet Proteins, Strategic Narratives, and Startup Success 00:10:39 – Young Innovators, Biochar, and Climate Tech Disruptors 00:13:12 – Welcoming Dr. Glennis Mehra: The Biotech Builder 00:15:04 – From Academia to Entrepreneurship: Glennis’ Journey 00:17:31 – Imposter Syndrome in Biotech: Why Founders Struggle 00:19:55 – The Secret to Building a Strong Startup Community 00:22:18 – The Founder’s Dilemma: Making Big Decisions Quickly 00:25:09 – Why Founder-to-Founder Collaboration is Biotech’s Superpower 00:28:46 – Capital Scarcity and the Rise of Smarter Founders 00:32:53 – Building a Biotech in NYC: The Reality Check 00:33:42 – The Toughest Part: Capital, Talent, and Space 00:36:09 – Why NYC is a Risk-Taker’s Playground 00:38:56 – The Future of Biotech and the AI Acceleration 00:44:29 – Honest Advice for Biotech Entrepreneurs 00:48:12 – BioLabs and the Startup Survival Toolkit 00:52:48 – Final Words and What Comes NextLinks and Resources: Biolabs@NYULangone NASA Science Payloads Researchers link a gene to the emergence of spoken language Oobli and Ingredion Announce Partnership as Demand for Sweet Proteins Accelerates Sweet Dreams Are Made of Proteins: Oobli’s Ali Wing A 16-year-old (Harper Moss) helms this new regenerative farming startupTopics Covered: Biotech, Business, NYC, Innovation, Incubator, Accelerator, Startups, BiomanufacturingHave a question or comment? Message us here:Text or Call (804) 505-5553 ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠  / ⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠Grow Everything⁠⁠⁠Email: groweverything@messaginglab.comMusic by: NihiloreProduction by: Amplafy Media

Erum and Karl get into the nitty-gritty of evolution, automation, and space microbes with Erika DeBenedictis—CEO of Pioneer Labs, a computational physicist, molecular biologist, and all-around biotech explorer. They chat about her wild career path from JPL and Sandia National Laboratories to engineering microbes for Mars and running an academic lab dedicated to Robotics-Accelerated Evolution (yes, that’s as cool as it sounds). You can expect to hear all about AI-driven protein design, the future of fully automated science, and why programmable experiments might just be the next CRISPR. Plus, a little existential musing on whether life on Earth is just beta-testing for the universe.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 – Introduction and Super Bowl: A Low-Gravity Celebration 00:00:46 – Crypto and Microbiomes: Decentralized Finance Meets Decentralized Lifeforms 00:02:12 – Earth Species Project: Talking to Whales, But Not on Zoom 00:03:57 – Telepathy Tapes: The WiFi of the Animal Kingdom 00:06:31 – Extremophiles and Biofilms: Nature’s Original Space Settlers 00:08:36 – Interview with Erika DeBenedictis: Evolution at Hyperspeed 00:08:58 – Life on Mars: Not Just a Sci-Fi Reboot 00:12:54 – Mars Habitat and Biomanufacturing: Home is Where the Microbes Are 00:24:47 – Pioneer Labs and Microbial Engineering: Engineering the Ultimate Space Hitchhikers 00:30:49 – Bioplastics vs. Bricks on Mars: Why Not Just 3D Print a House? 00:32:19 – Collaborations and Open Science: Because Space Isn’t a Solo Mission 00:35:00 – Mars Dirt Analysis: Not Your Average Potting Soil 00:45:23 – Potential of Ice Moons: Where the Coolest Science Happens 00:47:39 – Venus and Other Planetary Bodies: Finding Real Estate Beyond Earth 00:49:00 – The Future of Space Exploration: From Camping Trips to Colonies 00:51:54 – Concluding Thoughts and Farewell: The Final Countdown (For Now)Links and Resources: Pioneer Labs  Pioneer Labs Substack, Subscribe!  The Earth Species Project Cultivarium  Star Trek on Genetic EngineeringTopics Covered: Mars, soil microbes, space biotech, genetic engineering, biotech, bioeconomy, research and developmentHave a question or comment? Message us here:Text or Call (804) 505-5553 ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠  / ⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠Grow Everything⁠⁠Email: groweverything@messaginglab.comMusic by: NihiloreProduction by: Amplafy Media