Episodes
Join host Terry Verch in "Down to Earth" as he engages in a thought-provoking conversation with Ben Jones, a prominent freelance election expert and advisor to leading election observation organizations. In this episode, they delve into the world of elections, disinformation challenges, and the growing influence of China and Russia. With firsthand experience from election missions and a deep understanding of the impact of technology and online information, Ben shares valuable insights on the...
Published 06/01/23
Published 06/01/23
In this episode: Nicholas Wade is a science journalist who has written for publications such as the New York Times, Nature, and Science throughout his more than four-decade career. Wade recently testified about the lab leak hypothesis to the House Select Subcommittee on Coronavirus Pandemic and recommends listening to that testimony. The origin of the coronavirus became politicized from the beginning, but it should be a purely scientific issue that people of all political affiliations would...
Published 04/18/23
In this episode, we have Robert Auers, a refinery modeller and refined fuels market analyst at RBN Energy, to shed light on the value chain and technical complexities involved in the industry. Join us as we delve into the upstream, midstream, and downstream processes of the oil and gas industry, including the production methods, used to extract oil and gas from the ground. We also discuss the importance of understanding the value chain, as it affects the prices of various products in the...
Published 03/29/23
In this podcast episode, Terry engages in a lively debate with Maciej Ceglowski about whether or not humans should venture to Mars. They discuss the biggest obstacles and challenges that we would face in making such a journey, along with other related questions. Tune in to hear their insightful perspectives and arguments. Twitter: @AstroTerry Instagram: astro_terry
Published 03/14/23
Join us for an inspiring conversation with Robin Horsfall, a man who has truly lived a life like no other. Robin's incredible journey has taken him from the British SAS to a successful career in private security, but that's only the beginning. As a black belt in karate, Robin has faced countless challenges and overcome them all with strength and determination. He is also a cancer survivor and an advocate for living life to the fullest. In addition to all of this, Robin is a loving husband,...
Published 02/27/23
Jaanika Merilo is an advisor to Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister for digital transformation, the former deputy mayor of Dnipro in Ukraine, and a strong advocate of helping the Ukrainian war effort by fundraising for privately donated drones. She is also helping to organize a campaign to bring World Expo 2030 to Odessa. Twitter: @AstroTerry Instagram: astro_terry
Published 02/15/23
Terry talks with George “Saul” Youstra, a former US Army Green Beret and US Air Force Chaplain, including being chaplain to 9 four-star generals and the US Chief of Staff. https://terryvirts.com/ Twitter: @AstroTerry Instagram: astro_terry
Published 02/02/23
Mark and Terry talk AI, Robotics, energy, and the future of technology. https://terryvirts.com/ Twitter: @AstroTerry Instagram: astro_terry
Published 01/26/23
Terry talks to Ryan Clancy from No Labels “Ryan Clancy, chief strategist for No Labels, talks about some unique and innovative ways to save our political system from the extreme left and right, and what might be done to give Americans a viable, centrist candidate in the 2024 presidential election without starting a completely new third party." https://terryvirts.com/ Twitter: @AstroTerry Instagram: astro_terry
Published 01/12/23
Terry talks to Stig Karlsen, the head of the Norwegian delegation to Eurovision, to find out. Stig Karlsen is the lead for the Norwegian delegation to the Eurovision Song Contest, one of the biggest television events on Earth. We talk about what Eurovision is, why it is so important to so many Europeans, how England will be hosting the event this year on behalf of Ukraine, who won last year, and what it takes to put together such a massive production on a global scale. https://terryvirts.com/...
Published 12/14/22
What is the future of the Republican Party? Is DeSantis their saviour? Will sanity ever return to American politics? All this and more with Ron Filipkowski. https://terryvirts.com/ Twitter: @AstroTerry Instagram: astro_terry
Published 12/08/22
“Volcanoes in Antarctica? Getting energy from deep under the Earth’s surface? No problem. Talking all things geophysics with Dr. Hunter Knox." Twitter: @AstroTerry Instagram: astro_terry
Published 11/29/22
Retired NATO commander and US Air Force General Breedlove joins me today as we focus on the Ukraine war and the difference between how Russia and the West wage war. “Combined force and joint warfare are used by NATO, but the Russians still fight in a crude way,” says Breedlove, “in an attrition-based, demonstrative way.” “Russians came into the war in a disassociated, disconnected network,” says Breedlove. We talk through tactics, the progression of the war, weapons, sanctions, and how...
Published 11/16/22
“What’s more important- the price of a gallon of gas, or a functioning democracy? It’s the DTE midterm issue" Twitter: @AstroTerry Instagram: astro_terry
Published 11/07/22
What does all that space debris zooming around Earth look like? Former NASA astronaut Ed Lu explains how his new company, LeoLabs, is making space a safer place, by tracking all of that junk, and helping companies like SpaceX manoeuvre their satellites to avoid debris-causing explosions in orbit. Twitter: @AstroTerry Instagram: astro_terry
Published 11/03/22
Terry Virts breaks down the dragon air-to-air combat seen in “house of the dragon” from a test pilot and fighter pilot's perspective. Courtesy of HBO All images used for this video are from the tv show House of the Dragon by HBO Twitter: @AstroTerry Instagram: astro_terry
Published 10/27/22
What’s it like to fly the world’s most advanced fighter jet? How can aeroplanes prevent crashes, even if the pilot is unconscious? Why is the Air Force better than the Navy? This and more with fighter pilot/test pilot Billie Flynn. Twitter: @AstroTerry Instagram: astro_terry In partnership with: https://evaintmedia.com/
Published 10/21/22
Terry talks with Adam Frisch, who’s running in a dead heat against one of the biggest MAGA Republicans in the country, Lauren Boebert. Twitter: @AstroTerry Instagram: astro_terry
Published 10/13/22
Should they treat the right and left equally? How can we save democracy? These are just some of the topics that we discuss with former Chicago Tribune editor Mark Jacob. https://terryvirts.com/ Twitter: @AstroTerry Instagram: astro_terry
Published 10/04/22
Regina Crosby, a conversationist and founder of the One Whale charity, joins me to talk about all things whale and marine mammals. For example - the Beluga in Hammerfest, in the North of Norway, that lives in the marina, often returning phones people drop into the water! She has a plan to return him to the wild - but being raised as a captive whale, this isn't straightforward. We cover whale intelligence, spy whales and so much more. A unique episode, thanks for coming on Regina!...
Published 09/22/22
What is happening in Space? Will the Artemis program take us back to the Moon? Should we be cooperating with Russia? Are there fish in Europa’s oceans? And what about all that space junk? All this and more in Terry’s conversation with Time magazine’s Jeffrey Kluger. https://terryvirts.com/ Twitter: @AstroTerry Instagram: astro_terry
Published 09/09/22
Steve James joins me in today’s episode – Steve is a former inspector of Police for Victoria and was Ministerial Adviser for Drug Policy for Australia and New Zealand Government for 11 years, who is currently enjoying retirement. He has a fascinating background, joining a cadet programme at age 15, following crime from the early days, moving onto drug expertise, explosives and organised crime. We have a thought-provoking debate on the pros and cons of gun law in Australia and the US, and we...
Published 08/25/22
What’s the whackiest science story ever? How about the OJ chase upending Al Gore and the Space Station? Heir’s 30 years of science reporting adventures from NPR’s own Joe Palca. https://terryvirts.com/ Twitter: @AstroTerry Instagram: astro_terry
Published 08/18/22
We are moving towards electric vehicles and wind & solar power make us wholly dependent on China. Is it even possible to build the number of EVs that are being promised today? And how do we get gas prices back down to Earth? Get the answer to these questions and more with Mark Mills.  
Published 08/11/22