Rephonic
Artwork for Small Steps, Giant Leaps
NASA
International Space Station
Exoplanets
Hubble Space Telescope
James Webb Space Telescope
PACE Mission
Artificial Intelligence
Cosmic Origins Program
Space Exploration
Black Holes
Open Science
Cosmic Pathfinders Program
Moon
Ingenuity Mars Helicopter
Transform To Open Science Initiative
Goddard Space Flight Center
Mars
Engineering
Astronomy
Galactic Evolution

NASA’s technical workforce put boots on the Moon, tire tracks on Mars, and the first reusable spacecraft in orbit around the Earth. Learn what’s next as they build missions that redefine the future with amazing discoveries and remarkable innovations.

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes177Founded8 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Science

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Artwork for Small Steps, Giant Leaps

Latest Episodes

Astronauts aboard the International Space Station depend on life support systems that provide clean air, drinkable water, and a safe, livable environment. These systems are what make long-duration spaceflight not only possible, but comfortable. Today... more

Ground teams connect with astronauts aboard the International Space Station to help them carry out research and experiments. Kassandra Stephens, payload communications manager at the Payload Operations Integration Center at Marshall Space Flight Cent... more

A NASA research program collaborates with universities to revolutionize the way we design, build, and operate aircraft. Angela Surgenor, deputy program director of the Transformative Aeronautics Concepts Program, explains.

Before scientists can use those satellite imagery for research, the data must be carefully calibrated to ensure measurements are accurate and consistent over time. Julia Barsi, NASA calibration scientist, explains.

Key Facts

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Number of Listeners
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Recent Guests

Paul Boehm
Orion crew support and thermal systems manager at Johnson Space Center, Houston
NASA Johnson Space Center
Episode: Life Support Systems: From Space Station to Orion
Kassandra Stephens
Payload Communications Manager for the ISS
Marshall Space Flight Center
Episode: Science Takes a Village (in Alabama)
Angela Surgenor
TACP Deputy Program Manager
NASA Transformative Aeronautics Concepts Program (TACP)
Episode: Transformative Aeronautics
Julia Barsi
Calibration Scientist
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Episode: Calibrating Satellite Image Data
Kurt Polzin
Chief Engineer for the Space Nuclear Propulsion Office at Marshall Space Flight Center
NASA
Episode: Space Nuclear Propulsion
Erika Alvarez
Deputy Director of the Space Systems Department at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center
NASA Marshall Space Flight Center
Episode: Test Like You Fly
Darius Yagoubi
Deputy Chief Engineer for NASA's Planetary Missions Program Office at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center
NASA Marshall Space Flight Center
Episode: Soft Skills for Tough Missions
Shannon Gregory
Chief of Flight Operations and Lead Pilot at Kennedy Space Center
NASA
Episode: Tracking Launches: Views from a NASA Pilot
Emily Gilbert
Associate Project Scientist and co-lead of the Supporting Observations Science Working Group
Caltech / Pandora project
Episode: How NASA's Pandora Mission Unboxes Distant Worlds

Host

Andres Almeida
Host of Small Steps, Giant Leaps

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 153 ratings
  • Mars

    MARS MARS MARS MARS MARS MARS MARS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Bananabreadawesomeness
    United States7 months ago
  • Great podcast!

    The episodes are timely and thorough but bite-sized and perfect for a quick lunchtime listen. Great series!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    jenhick
    United States3 years ago
  • V good.

    Very good…and no mindless background Muzak!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    *@%",+&
    United Kingdom3 years ago
  • Not so bad.

    Not so bad.

    Just a O-KAY.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Globalstandard Space
    United States4 years ago
  • Production Quality

    Marginal.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Mozartoperaman
    United States5 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

High-quality, bite-sized episodes with deep NASA expertise
A few critical listeners feel it's overly NASA-centric or technical for casual fans
Audience appreciates practical engineering lessons and real-world storytelling
Guest lineup includes top NASA engineers and mission leaders

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#216
United Kingdom/Science
Apple Podcasts
#247
France/Science
Apple Podcasts
#9
Argentina/Science
Apple Podcasts
#24
South Korea/Science
Apple Podcasts
#37
Ireland/Science
Apple Podcasts
#74
Taiwan/Science

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Life Support Systems: From Space Station to Orion
Q: So what space station-derived technology does the Orion spacecraft have?
Paul explains that Orion borrows many concepts from ISS hardware, scales them to Orion's smaller volume, and uses ISS as a test bed for new hardware while repurposing successful components for Orion's needs.
Science Takes a Village (in Alabama)
Q: Does Mission Control in Houston get involved as well?
Yes, Mission Control in Houston, along with international centers, coordinates schedules and activities to avoid conflicts and to keep operations aligned across time zones and centers.
Science Takes a Village (in Alabama)
Q: What is the Payload Operations Integration Center, and what do you do there?
The POIC is the Huntsville-based control center that coordinates payload operations for the ISS, acting as the bridge between the crew and the ground teams to ensure science happens smoothly and safely.
Transformative Aeronautics
Q: What makes an idea transformative?
Transformative ideas are multidisciplinary collisions that disrupt the status quo and rewrite underlying engineering approaches, not merely incremental improvements; they emerge when converging fields like AI, quantum computing, and advanced materials into aerospace engineering create fundamentally new ways of flying and designing aircraft.
Space Nuclear Propulsion
Q: What are the major milestones recently achieved?
Recent milestones include a cold flow test campaign at Marshall Space Flight Center to validate flow-induced vibration models, progress on high-temperature nuclear fuels in collaboration with DOE and industry partners, and successful firing of a domestic Magneto Plasma Dynamic thruster unit, demonstrating key propulsion physics at high power.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Small Steps, Giant Leaps

What is Small Steps, Giant Leaps about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A technically oriented show that centers on NASA's engineering challenges, mission planning, and cutting-edge aerospace research. Recent episodes spotlight how life-support systems scale from ISS to Orion, the human and organizational aspects of mission operations, advanced propulsion and propulsion alternatives, rigorous testing cultures, and the interplay between software, hardware, and risk management in high-stakes spaceflight. Noteworthy: guests come from NASA centers, JPL/APL, and university collaborations, with a strong emphasis on real-world engineering decisions, hands-on lessons, and the human factors behind ambitious space programs. The format tends to blend technical depth with practical takeaways for professionals curious about... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Small Steps, Giant Leaps?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Small Steps, Giant Leaps:

1. Houston We Have a Podcast
2. NASA's Curious Universe
3. Planetary Radio: Space Exploration, Astronomy and Science
4. The Supermassive Podcast
5. SpaceTime with Stuart Gary

How many episodes of Small Steps, Giant Leaps are there?

Small Steps, Giant Leaps launched 8 years ago and published 177 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Small Steps, Giant Leaps?

Recent guests on Small Steps, Giant Leaps include:

1. Paul Boehm
2. Kassandra Stephens
3. Angela Surgenor
4. Julia Barsi
5. Kurt Polzin
6. Erika Alvarez
7. Darius Yagoubi
8. Shannon Gregory

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