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Artwork for The Moonshot Podcast

The Moonshot Podcast

X, The Moonshot Factory
Artificial Intelligence
Machine Learning
Neural Networks
Google
Everyday Robots
Robotics
Food Security
Google Brain
Innovation
Deep Learning
Google Glass
Human-Robot Interaction
Choreography
Software Development
Food Waste
Google X
Design
Digital Divide
AI Ethics
Climate Change

The Moonshot Podcast chronicles the untold stories of innovation - both highs and lows - from inside Google’s Moonshot Factory. In Season 2, Captain of Moonshots Astro Teller sits down with a new crop of moonshot takers exploring the next frontiers in health, biology, computing and more. From energy kites and robotic pants, to sea fuel and digital immune systems, go behind the scenes with the inve... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes26Foundeda year ago
Number of ListenersCategories
TechnologyScience

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Artwork for The Moonshot Podcast

Latest Episodes

This episode of The Moonshot Podcast explores two moonshots that investigated very different ways to use water: harvesting it from the air and transforming it into fuel.

Astro Teller first chats with Neil Treat and Claudia Truesdell from Project H2... more

This episode of The Moonshot Podcast explores how X, The Moonshot Factory, is reimagining a better way to plan and make smarter, faster building decisions to address the global housing crisis.

Host Astro Teller is joined by architect Michelle Kaufm... more

YouTube

This episode of The Moonshot Podcast explores X's pursuit of radical solutions to drive energy abundance and resilience for humanity.

Host Astro Teller is joined by Fort Felker to discuss the untold story of the Makani Moonshot, which sought to harv... more

YouTube

This episode of The Moonshot Podcast dives into the future of biology, exploring how to harness life's "tiny factories" to solve humanity's biggest challenges.

Host Astro Teller sits down with Brad Zamft, CEO of Heritable Agriculture, to talk about... more

YouTube

Key Facts

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Contact Information
Podcast Host
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Recent Guests

Michelle Kaufmann
Architect, former X advisor
Former X; Architect
Episode: The Moonshot Podcast S2, Episode 4: Breaking New Ground
Adrian Walker
Leader of Anori; CTO
Anori
Episode: The Moonshot Podcast S2, Episode 4: Breaking New Ground
Julia Ling
CTO/Co-lead at Anori
Anori
Episode: The Moonshot Podcast S2, Episode 4: Breaking New Ground
Fort Felker
Engineer and test lead on Makani
Makani, X
Episode: The Moonshot Podcast S2, Episode 3: Chasing the Wind, Storing the Sun
Rajesh (Raj) Apte
Engineer involved in Project Malta
X, Malta project
Episode: The Moonshot Podcast S2, Episode 3: Chasing the Wind, Storing the Sun
Brad Zamft
CEO of XSpinout, Heritable Agriculture
Heritable Agriculture / XSpinout
Episode: The Moonshot Podcast S2, Episode 2: Coding The Natural World
Relly Brandman
Computational biologist, project lead for A-Life
A-Life / X
Episode: The Moonshot Podcast S2, Episode 2: Coding The Natural World
Kathryn Zealand
Physicist on Skip team
Skip (X project)
Episode: The Moonshot Podcast S2, Episode 1: Supercharging Human Health
Anna Roumiantseva
Consumer product specialist on Skip team
Skip (X project)
Episode: The Moonshot Podcast S2, Episode 1: Supercharging Human Health

Host

Astro Teller
Captain of Moonshots; Host of The Moonshot Podcast

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 132 ratings
  • Fascinating!

    So well done, right from the first episode. This is a binge-worthy, go-to, favorite podcast.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Hawk0630
    United States6 months ago
  • Must listen

    Captivating. Finally I understand what X is all about.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Stillerblue
    United Statesa year ago
  • Great podcast

    Love this.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    54322!
    United Statesa year ago
  • Fascinating

    These stories have so many unexpected moments—surprising and beautiful. Great series.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    IowaGal36
    United Statesa year ago
  • Inside view of Google X… wow!

    Full disclosure, I once got to visit the Moonshot factory, but hearing the first person descriptions in the podcast is way. Astro seems so approachable and the X team makes work sound fun! Can’t wait for more episodes to drop.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    MarKat1990
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

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

Listener feedback consistently praises the host and guests for accessibility and practical insight into breakthrough tech.
Audience notes the host comes across as approachable and the discussions feel authentic and informative to both fans of science and industry professionals.
The show is described as engaging and inspiring, with particular appreciation for the behind-the-scenes look at moonshots and experimentation.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#152
United States/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#89
Canada/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#190
United Kingdom/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#235
Australia/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#242
Germany/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#64
South Korea/Technology

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Moonshot Podcast S2, Episode 3: Chasing the Wind, Storing the Sun
Q: What was Malta and how did it evolve into a company?
Malta started as a bold concept for time-shifting energy using a reversible heat engine—an alternative to bulky lithium storage—driven by Nobel laureate Bob Laughlin's ideas; after substantial feasibility studies and cost analysis, it was spun out into an independent company to pursue grid-scale storage solutions.
The Moonshot Podcast S2, Episode 3: Chasing the Wind, Storing the Sun
Q: Why did the Makani project eventually close, and what were the major learnings?
Despite many innovations and firsts, detailed cost and systems engineering models showed that a disruptive cost advantage over conventional wind would not be realized; the team learned the importance of realistic techno-economic assessments and the need for rapid cost modeling alongside physics validation.
The Moonshot Podcast S2, Episode 3: Chasing the Wind, Storing the Sun
Q: What was the vision for Makani and how would the system generate power?
Makani aimed to replace traditional wind turbines with a kite-based system where a tethered wing flies in looping patterns, driving onboard rotors that generate electricity fed back to the grid through the tether, a fundamentally different approach that promised large cost reductions if scaled.
The Moonshot Podcast S2, Episode 2: Coding The Natural World
Q: What does A-Life do and why is it needed in biomanufacturing?
A-Life provides an engineering approach to biology by using AI and models to map how cells work in their environment, reducing the guesswork and number of experiments required to design, build, and test new biological products at commercial scale.
Moonshot Podcast Deep Dive: Emily Ma on Solving Food Waste
Q: What steps have you taken towards solving the food waste problem?
We developed an air traffic control system to efficiently move surplus food from retailers to food banks, thus minimizing waste and maximizing food recovery.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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Interests
Professions
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Moonshot Podcast

What is The Moonshot Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show centers on radical, real-world moonshots and the people behind them, blending deep technology discussion with human-facing stories about invention, experimentation, and failure. Episodes highlight breakthroughs in AI, robotics, wearables, energy, food systems, and disaster resilience, often grounded in the culture and methods of X, The Moonshot Factory. A standout trait is the candid look at how ambitious projects evolve—from audacious ideas to prototyping, public testing, and sometimes dramatic pivots or setbacks—offering listeners practical takeaways for innovation, product development, and cross-disciplinary collaboration. The format tends to attract listeners who want a clear view into how breakthrough technology is conceived, ... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The Moonshot Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Moonshot Podcast:

1. Moonshots with Peter Diamandis
2. Hard Fork
3. TBPN
4. Invest Like the Best with Patrick O'Shaughnessy
5. The Future of Everything

How many episodes of The Moonshot Podcast are there?

The Moonshot Podcast launched a year ago and published 26 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 The Moonshot Podcast?

Recent guests on The Moonshot Podcast include:

1. Michelle Kaufmann
2. Adrian Walker
3. Julia Ling
4. Fort Felker
5. Rajesh (Raj) Apte
6. Brad Zamft
7. Relly Brandman
8. Kathryn Zealand

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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